Prevalence, Clinical and Imaging Characteristics of Superior Ophthalmic Vein Periphlebitis in Thyroid Eye Disease

To determine the prevalence, clinical features, and radiographic findings of superior ophthalmic vein periphlebitis (SOVP) in thyroid eye disease (TED).

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of thyroid eye disease and contrast-enhanced imaging were included. Imaging was reviewed for the presence of SOVP, and patients with SOVP were compared to those without. A random eye was determined to be the affected eye in patients without SOVP.

A total of 212 patients met the inclusion criteria. Unilateral SOVP was identified in 4.7% of cases. There was no significant difference in age ( p = 0.22), gender ( p = 0.09), or disease duration ( p = 0.14) between patients with and without SOVP. There was a significant ( p < 0.05) difference in stage classification and clinical activity core between the groups. The affected eye in patients with SOVP had significantly ( p < 0.05) greater margin reflex distance 1, degree of relative proptosis, horizontal motility restriction, and vertical motility restriction than in patients without SOVP. There was no significant difference in horizontal strabismus ( p = 1.0), vertical strabismus ( p = 0.87), or relative intraocular pressure ( p = 0.77). On imaging, the maximal diameter of the SR and IR were found to be significantly ( p < 0.05) larger in the affected eye of patients with periphlebitis; however, there was no difference in measured diameter of the medial rectus and ( p = 0.30) or lateral rectus ( p = 0.78).

SOVP is an under-reported imaging finding of thyroid eye disease. It is associated with significantly greater margin reflex distance 1, relative proptosis, and motility restriction on exam as well as larger superior rectus and inferior rectus diameter on imaging. These patients tend to present in the active stage of disease with greater clinical activity score.