Studies on the factors related to lacrimal gland prolapse (LGP) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) are limited. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with LGP on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its relation to TAO activity . Thirty-six patients (72 orbits) with inactive TAO (43 orbits, Clinical Activity Score [CAS] < 3) or active TAO (29 orbits, CAS ≥3) were investigated retrospectively. All patients underwent ophthalmic evaluation and orbital magnetic resonance imaging. The severity of LGP and proptosis and the extraocular muscle (EOM) volume were measured. LGP and related factors were assessed by correlational and linear regression analyses. The value of LGP for discriminating the activity of TAO was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. The mean LGP was significantly higher in the active TAO group than in the inactive TAO group (P < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between LGP severity and the CAS (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), proptosis (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), and EOM volume (superior rectus [r = 0.49, P < 0.001], inferior rectus [r = 0.47, P < 0.001], lateral rectus [r = 0.59, P < 0.001], medial rectus [r = 0.62, P < 0.001], superior oblique [r = 0.48, P < 0.001], and all EOMs [r = 0.59, P < 0.001]). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an LGP of 13.65 mm (area under the curve, 0.824; sensitivity, 79.3%; specificity, 81.4%) to be the cut-off value that differentiated active and inactive TAO. LGP measurements obtained from orbital magnetic resonance images were positively correlated with CAS, proptosis and EOM volume. The extent of LGP appears to be a good indicator of disease activity in patients with TAO.

中文翻译：

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泪腺脱垂程度与甲状腺相关眼病临床特征的相关性：一项回顾性观察研究

关于甲状腺相关性眼病（TAO）患者泪腺脱垂（LGP）相关因素的研究有限。本研究旨在评估磁共振成像 (MRI) 上与 LGP 相关的因素及其与 TAO 活性的关系。回顾性研究了 36 例（72 个眼眶）TAO 不活动（43 个眼眶，临床活动评分 [CAS] < 3）或活动性 TAO（29 个眼眶，CAS ≥3）的患者。所有患者均接受眼科评估和眼眶磁共振成像。测量 LGP 和眼球突出的严重程度以及眼外肌 (EOM) 体积。LGP 和相关因素通过相关和线性回归分析进行评估。通过接受者操作特征曲线分析评估 LGP 区分 TAO 活性的价值。活动 TAO 组的平均 LGP 显着高于非活动 TAO 组（P < 0.001）。LGP 严重程度与 CAS (r = 0.51, P < 0.001)、突眼 (r = 0.72, P < 0.001) 和 EOM 体积 (上直肌 [r = 0.49, P < 0.001]、下直肌[r = 0.47, P < 0.001]、外直肌 [r = 0.59, P < 0.001]、内直肌 [r = 0.62, P < 0.001]、上斜肌 [r = 0.48, P < 0.001] 和所有 EOM [ r = 0.59，P < 0.001]）。接受者操作特征曲线分析显示，LGP 为 13.65 mm（曲线下面积，0.824；敏感性，79.3%；特异性，81.4%）是区分活动性和非活动性 TAO 的临界值。从轨道磁共振图像获得的 LGP 测量值与 CAS、眼球突出和 EOM 体积呈正相关。