REVIEW article
Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Thyroid Endocrinology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1601556
Advancements in imaging research in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), a sight-threatening ocular condition 7 intricately associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases, is the most common orbital disorder 8 among adults. Accurate assessment of TAO is crucial for effective clinical management. 9 However, the current evaluation system is hindered by significant subjectivity and a lack of 10 standardized objective criteria, thereby complicating the pursuit of precise and individualized 11 treatment strategies. Imaging techniques are integral to the clinical management of TAO, as 12 they provide detailed anatomical visualization of the orbit and reflect underlying 13 pathophysiological changes. This article reviews the applications of three prevalent imaging 14 modalities—ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging 15 (MRI)—in the diagnosis and management of TAO. We examine their respective advantages, 16 limitations, and roles in disease diagnosis, staging, and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, 17 with the aim of providing a scientific basis for the optimization of clinical practice.
Keywords: Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, Ultrasonography, computed tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Clinical Management
Received: 28 Mar 2025; Accepted: 26 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xu, Xue and Lyu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhao Hui Lyu, Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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