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MRI identifies anomalous extraocular musculature associated with strabismus
Am J Ophthalmol. 2010;150(6):925-931.
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High-resolution MRI showed utility in pinpointing anomalous extraocular muscles that may cause irregularities in ocular motility such as restrictive strabismus, a study found.
"As higher-resolution orbital imaging is increasingly used in the evaluation of strabismus, supernumerary [extraocular muscles] inevitably will be encountered and occasionally may be significant contributors to strabismus," the study authors said. "Our study suggests that the presence of these [extraocular muscle] bands is sometimes associated with restrictive strabismus."
The prospective study included 118 normal patients and 453 patients with strabismus who underwent high-resolution orbital MRI. Investigators assessed the shapes and mechanics of anomalous extraocular muscle bands and gauged ocular motility.
Study results showed that unilateral or bilateral orbital bands concurrent with one or more supernumerary extraocular muscles were identified in one normal patient and 11 strabismic patients. The prevalence of supernumerary extraocular muscles was 2.4% among strabismic patients and 0.8% among normal patients. The difference was statistically insignificant.
Most anomalous extraocular muscle bands were not associated with other extraocular muscle dysplasia and ran in the retrobulbar space between the rectus extraocular muscles or between one extraocular muscle and the globe.
All bands were too deep for conventional strabismus surgery, the authors said.