Controversies in the clinical evaluation of active thyroid-associated orbitopathy: use of a detailed protocol with comparative photographs for objective assessment

Despite many learned publications over recent decades, the assessment of ac tive thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) remains difficult and controversi al. There are no biochemical, immunological or imaging investigations which can identify active disease reliably, and clinical assessment is still of paramount importance. We therefore review the strengths and weaknesses of a ll methods of clinical assessment. A new atlas for clinical assessment of s oft tissue signs has been developed, and its reproducibility assessed. It d etails a suggested protocol that could help standardize descriptions of TAO and allow more objective assessment of its activity and severity. This is relevant to general endocrinologists, who have a crucial role in the identi fication of patients who require ophthalmological assessment. Certain aspec ts are more relevant to ophthalmologists and endocrinologists who have a sp ecial clinical and research interest in TAO. Unless a reproducible system o f assessment is devised and widely adopted, it will remain difficult to int erpret research meaningfully, particularly if results appear to contradict.