[Sonography of the retrobulbar space in autoimmune hyperthyroidism of the Basedow type].

B-scan was performed to examine the orbits of 54 patients with Graves' disease. The thickness of the medial and lateral rectus muscle was measured and the results were compared to a control of 24 persons. 21 of the 54 patients with Graves' disease showed different degrees of eye changes in Graves' disease (Class I to IV). In comparison to the control 31 of the 33 patients without clinical signs or symptoms of Graves' orbitopathy have enlarged extraocular muscles. This guides to the presumption of an obligatory orbital involvement in Graves' disease.