Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a complex, organ-specific autoimmune disorder closely related to thyroid diseases and one of the common orbital diseases in adults. The disease follows a characteristic “biphasic” course (active and inactive phases), with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from mild eyelid retraction and lag to vision-threatening optic neuropathy and severe exposure keratopathy, imposing a significant physical and psychological burden on patients' quality of life as well as their physical and mental health. In current neuro-ophthalmology practice, the lack of a standardized and uniform assessment protocol leads to considerable variability in TED management strategies across different regions and clinicians. Furthermore, the complex nature of TED necessitates management beyond the scope of a single specialty, highlighting an urgent need for multidisciplinary collaboration. This consensus aims to establish and promote a standardized TED assessment system led by neuro-ophthalmologists. It emphasizes standardization, precision, and clinical operability, while advocating for a routine, institutionalized, and patient-centered multidisciplinary model to optimize clinical decisions and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Objective To analyze the implementation of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) clinic for thyroid eye disease (TED) and explore the significance of TED MDT clinic. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of patients who visited TED MDT clinic at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between December 1, 2022 and November 30, 2024. Patient condition indicators were collected and MDT outpatient operation indicators were statistically analyzed. Results During the study period, a total of 696 patients were admitted to the TED MDT clinic, with an average age of (51.14±12.00) years. All patients were diagnosed with TED and showed symptoms of extraocular muscle involvement and restricted eye movement. According to the NOSPECS clinical grading system, all patients were classified as grade 4 or above. Among them, 693 patients’ orbital enhanced MRI showed that the extraocular muscles were in an inflammatory active phase, and 690 patients received periarbital injection of triamcinolone acetonide, precise orbital radiation therapy, and thyroid function regulation. During the research period, TED MDT clinic received a total of 90 visits, with an average of 7.73 patients per visit. The patient satisfaction rate was 99.67%, and there were no cases of experts being late, absent, or doctors with insufficient qualifications to participate in discussions. ConclusionThe TED MDT clinic has been well developed, and the experts within the team attach great importance to it, making it valuable for continued large-scale promotion.
