Unilateral Periorbital Oedema with Hypothyroidism and Multinodular Goiter

Abstract

Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder which involves orbital and periorbital tissue. The immune-mediated inflammation of the orbital tissues can involve extraocular muscles, orbital connective tissue or orbital fat and periocular soft tissues. Bilateral involvement of thyroid associated orbitopathy is usually asymmetric, but unilateral thyroid associated orbitopathy has been less reported. Periorbital oedema as the only sign with hypothyroidism is uncommon and if present, it is more frequent bilaterally present and no cases are evidenced as unilateral. Pitting oedema in hypothyroidism is rare and can be due to increased capillary permeability, decreased adrenergic tone and increase in serotonin metabolism. Unilateral periorbital and eyelid oedema can associate with various clinical entities, multidisciplinary team is necessary to exclude the concomitant disease, so the patient can immediately be treated with proper therapy. We represent the case of unusually unilateral recurrent periorbital oedema in the period of time for 3 years with stabilized primary hypothyroidism and multinodular goitre.