Severe dysthyroid orbitopathy.
Nineteen patients (12 women and 7 men) with severe dysthyroid orbitopathy were treated with either orbital irradiation (9 patients) or orbital decompression (10 patients) or both (1 patient). Eight of the nine patients who received orbital irradiation had a favorable response. One patient had progression of optic neuropathy despite orbital irradiation and required orbital decompression. All eleven patients who underwent orbital decompression had a favorable response.