Experimental Exophthalmos and Associated Myopathy Induced by the Thyrotropic Extract

A study of malignant exophthalmos has been carried on in this clinic for several years.1In addition to the clinical studies, considerable experimental work has been done, the results of which are reported here. A historical review of the older research and theories on exophthalmos has been presented in detail previously1and need not be repeated. The term malignant exophthalmos is used to designate the progressive proptosis which, in a small group, increases to an alarming extent. It usually occurs after thyroidectomy in the presence of a low basal metabolic rate, and unless it is relieved by operative decompression of the bony orbit, as devised by Naffziger,1corneal ulceration, infection and fatal intracranial extension of the orbital cellulitis will develop in a high percentage of the patients. The pathologic changes and immediate cause of the exophthalmos occurring in these patients were described in detail in previous reports.