The acute diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis based on helical CT angiography of the chest and neck in the emergency room

Recently, a young woman presented acutely with a left hemispheric stroke and differing blood pressures in the arms as her initial manifestation of Takayasu's arteritis. Helical CT angiography, performed to rule out aortic dissection, revealed a thickened wall of the aortic arch with stenoses and occlusions of the great vessels, suggesting the diagnosis. The sequence of imaging studies and findings in this unusually catastrophic presentation of a typically insidious disease are highlighted.     

Aortic aneurysms in patients with Takayasu's arteritis: CT evaluation

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence, development, and outcome of aortic aneurysm on CT in a group of patients with Takayasu's arteritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the files of 31 patients with Takayasu's arteritis between January 1990 and March 1999. All patients were followed up for more than 6 months with CT, and the mean follow-up period was 52.9 months (median, 36.0 months). In all patients, initial CT was performed within 6 months of diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis. The study group comprised 24 female patients and seven male patients; their ages at the first CT examination ranged from 8 to 72 years (mean, 42. 6 +/- 16.5 years). RESULTS: Seventeen aortic aneurysms were found in 14 (45.2%) of the 31 patients. Patients with severe calcification of the aorta showed significantly lower incidence of aneurysm formation than those without severe calcification of the aorta (p < 0.05). Of the 17 aneurysms, three were not present at the time of initial CT and appeared during the follow-up period. Nine of 17 aneurysms increased in size during the follow-up period. Three of the nine aneurysms rapidly increased in size and ruptured during the follow-up period. In all three of these aneurysms, aortic wall thickening was identified on CT. The remaining six aneurysms slowly increased in size but did not rupture. CONCLUSION: Aortic aneurysm associated with Takayasu's arteritis is not rare. The aorta with little calcification has a greater possibility of aneurysm formation in patients with Takayasu's arteritis. Aortic aneurysms with wall thickening can have fatal consequences.     

Follow-up CT Evaluation of the Mural Changes in Active Takayasu Arteritis

Objective

We wanted to evaluate the mural changes by CT on the follow-up examination of patients with active Takayasu arteritis.

Materials and Methods

The study included 18 patients, (4 males and 14 females), with active Takayasu arteritis. A total of 44 CT examinations were done during the follow-up period (mean: 55.6 months). At the time of the last follow-up CT, the disease, on the basis of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), was found to be inactive in five patients and the disease was active and persistent in 13 patients. The thickness and CT attenuation of the aortic wall on the precontrast, arterial and venous phases were measured on the initial and the follow-up CT examinations. The ratio of the mural attenuation over that of the back muscle on the initial CT was compared with the ratio found on the follow-up CT.

Results

The initial CT findings included high density and calcifications of the aortic wall in the precontrast images and a thickened wall with enhancements in the arterial and the venous phases. A low-attenuation ring was demonstrated in the venous phase in 15 patients (83%). On the follow-up evaluation, the mean mural thickness decreased significantly from 4.1 mm to 2.4 mm. The mean mural attenuation ratio in the venous phase decreased significantly from 1.9 to 1.3 (p = 0.001). The low attenuation ring was identified in seven patients (39%) who had only with active, persistent Takayasu arteritis.

Conclusion

The mural changes demonstrated by the follow-up CT evaluations for the patients with active Takayasu arteritis included a decrease of the mural thickness and enhancement, disappearance of the low-attenuation ring on the venous phase, and an increase of the mural attenuation and calcification on the precontrast phase.     

Abdominal computed tomography in lupus mesenteric arteritis.

We report the abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed signs of an acute abdomen secondary to mesenteric arteritis. Initial CT scan demonstrated ascites and wall thickening of the duodenum and jejunum. After treatment with high dose intravenous steroids, follow-up CT scan demonstrated a normal duodenum and small bowel. This is the first surgically proven case of lupus mesenteric arteritis resulting in bowel ischemia that is demonstrated on CT before and after medical therapy. Lupus mesenteric arteritis should be included in the differential diagnosis of causes of bowel wall thickening and ischemia, especially if mesenteric vessels appear prominent.     

Abnormal accumulation of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose in the aortic wall related to inflammatory changes: Three case reports

We present 3 cases with abnormal accumulation of FDG in the aortic wall. Their clinical manifestations were vague or asymptomatic, and laboratory data were consistent with inflammatory reaction. These 3 patients were diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis, inflammatory aortic aneurysm (IAA), and retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF), respectively. FDG-PET and CT images showed the intense FDG uptake corresponding to the arterial walls and/or the soft tissue density surrounding the artery. It was deduced that FDG was probably taken up by inflammatory cells which infiltrated the arterial walls and/or the soft tissue mass. These cases indicated that FDG-PET is a useful method for localization of inflammatory lesion in patients with unspecific clinical findings and laboratory data.     

Aortic pseudoaneurysm complicating Takayasu disease: CT appearance

The CT findings of a patient with Takayasu arteritis and an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm are presented. Computed tomography demonstrated the nature, location, and extent of the aortic lesion and revealed the ominous finding of a related large hematoma indicating prior aortic rupture.     

Electron beam CT features of the pulmonary artery in Takayasu's arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu's arteritis is suggestive of the disease. Our aim was to use electron beam CT to study pulmonary artery changes in patients with Takayasu's arteritis. CONCLUSION: Diffuse wall thickening and dilatation or stenosis were significantly more frequent on CT in patients with Takayasu's arteritis than in the control subjects. Knowledge of these findings may be of value when assessing pulmonary artery involvement and thus may be helpful for the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis.     

Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm and intramural hematoma in giant cell arteritis

An 80-year-old woman with established giant cell arteritis presented at the authors' institution with a 6.5-cm false aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta complicated by focal dissection and intramural hematoma after a 1-week history of acute-onset chest pain. The patient underwent uncomplicated endovascular aortic repair with a 32-mm x 15-cm TagExcluder stent-graft. After the procedure, the intramural hematoma resolved and the patient's corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy was repeatedly adjusted. However, the giant cell arteritis activity relapsed after 8 months with development of a similar 1.5-cm false aneurysm below the thoracic stent-graft, complicated by focal intramural hematoma. Repeat uncomplicated thoracic stent-graft implantation was performed and CT follow-up displayed resorption of the intramural hematomas with no evidence of endoleak or any new aortic pathology. This report discusses the difficult management of patients with relapsing active aortic giant cell arteritis and the potential role for endovascular thoracic aortic repair.     

Takayasu's arteritis: assessment of disease activity with contrast-enhanced MR imaging

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the determination of disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: High-resolution contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spinecho MR imaging using small fields of view (14-20 cm) and thin slices (4-5 mm) was performed in 26 patients with Takayasu's arteritis and 16 healthy subjects. The degree of aortic mural enhancement was assessed by measuring signal intensity and by visually estimating it in comparison with that of the myocardium. RESULTS: Contrast-enhanced MR imaging showed more enhancement of thickened aortic wall compared with myocardium, thus suggesting active Takayasu's arteritis on MR imaging in 16 patients. Determination of disease activity using contrast-enhanced MR imaging was concordant with clinical findings in 23 patients (88.5%). Contrast-enhanced MR findings were concordant with laboratory findings in most patients (erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 92.3% [24/26] and C-reactive protein in 84.6% [22/26]). The measured signal intensity of the aortic wall relative to that of myocardium during the early phase of contrast-enhanced MR imaging correlated well with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.78, p < 0.005) and with the C-reactive protein level (r = 0.63, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MR imaging provides information about disease activity of Takayasu's arteritis, which may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of Takayasu's arteritis.     

CT analysis of the aorta in giant-cell arteritis: a case-control study

Objectives

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel vasculitis whose diagnosis is confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. However, involvement of large vessels, especially the aorta, can be shown by imaging, which plays an increasing role in GCA diagnosis. The threshold above which aortic wall thickening, as measured by computed tomography (CT), is considered pathological is controversial, with values ranging from 2 to 3 mm. This study assessed aortic morphology by CT scan and its diagnostic value in GCA.

Methods

Altogether, 174 patients were included (64 with GCA, 43 with polymyalgia rheumatica and 67 controls). All patients had a CT scan at diagnosis or at inclusion for controls. Aortic wall thickness, aortic diameter and scores for atheroma were measured. Assessor was blinded to each patient’s group.

Results

Aortic diameters and atheroma scores were similar between groups. Aortic wall thickness was greater in the GCA group, even after the exclusion of GCA patients with aortic wall thickness ≥3 mm. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that a wall thickness of 2.2 mm was the optimal threshold to diagnose GCA (sensitivity, 67%; specificity, 98%).

Conclusions

Measuring aortic wall thickness by CT scan is effective to diagnose GCA. The optimal threshold to regard aortic wall thickening as pathological was ≥2.2 mm.

Key points

? Imaging, including CT scan, plays an increasing role in GCA diagnosis? CT measurement of aortic wall thickness is useful to diagnose GCA? A 2.2-mm threshold allows the diagnosis of thickened aortic wall in GCA

     

Motion artifact simulating aortic dissection on CT

We recently imaged two patients clinically suspected of having aortic dissection whose contrast-enhanced CT examinations, obtained on a new scanner with a 1-sec scanning time, showed findings suggesting an ascending aortic dissection. The subsequent clinical course and evaluation implied that the CT findings were predominantly artifactual. We identified identical artifacts in 18% of 50 consecutive contrast-enhanced CT examinations performed for a variety of indications on the same scanner. The double-lumen artifact, simulating an intimal flap, occurs in the proximal ascending aorta and is limited to one or two contiguous transaxial images. The artifact was not detected on two other CT units. We believe the artifact arises from motion of the aortic wall and the surrounding pericardial recesses during image acquisition.     

Invited. Takayasu arteritis: MR manifestations and diagnosis of acute and chronic phase

Diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis is difficult because the clinical features are similar to those of other diseases. In the late occlusive or pulseless phase Takayasu arteritis, angiography usually demonstrates luminal changes such as such as stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta and pulmonary artery and of their branches. However, absence of such luminal changes does not exclude the possibility of early or systemic phase Takayasu arteritis. Cross-sectional scanning such as CT scan and MRI plays an important role in demonstrating arterial wall changes in the early diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. Improvement in the clinical findings and subsidence of the active inflammatory process can be expected with early steroid treatment. The common and uncommon MR appearances of the late occlusive phase and the recently described radiographic features of the early systemic phase are illustrated.     

Sudden death due to Takayasu arteritis complication associated with situs inversus totalis: A case discovered at autopsy

Takayasu arteritis is a rare pathology that usually has general and atypical signs that make its diagnosis difficult. These characteristics can delay diagnosis, thus leading to complications and death. We, herein, report an autopsy case of a 25-year-old female patient with a history of multiple consultations for dyspnea. During these consultations, no diagnosis was made. She was found unconscious near her home and shortly after, she was declared dead. Forensic autopsy revealed superficial traumatic lesions. Internal examination revealed complete situs inversus. Multiple bilateral pleural adhesions and bilateral moderate effusion were found. The heart was heavy with thickening of the aortic wall (1.1cm), carotid arteries, and pulmonary trunk, associated with a large aortic valve and evidence of leakage. Histological examination of the aorta and its major branches showed features of panarteritis with segmental involvement. The vascular wall was thick with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and giant cells involving mainly the medio-adventitial junction. Disruption of the elastic lamina and reactive fibrosis in the intima were also noted. Diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis and particularly Takayasu arteritis was made.Death was therefore attributed to heart failure due to aortic insufficiency as a complication of Takayasu arteritis.     

大动脉炎血管壁的磁共振表现特点

目的：分析大动脉炎血管壁的MR表现特征及其临床应用价值。方法：32例临床确诊为大动脉炎的患者接受了MR检查,其中处于病情活动期20例,非活动期12例。分析并比较了两组患者受累动脉管壁的MR表现特征。结果：所有受累动脉的血管壁均不同程度的环形增厚。活动期组患者的管壁厚度较非活动期组患者明显增厚[（4．6±0．4）mm vs（3．4±0．6）mm,P〈0．01];比较两组增厚的血管壁形态,管壁呈“多环征”（分别为89／100和25／60）、内层明显强化（分别为66／100和24／60）、血管外界模糊不清（分别为72／100和20／60）等征象,经Х^2检验差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论：大动脉炎血管壁的MR主要征象是管壁增厚及其信号改变。MRI能观察血管壁精细的形态学变化,对大动脉炎管腔狭窄前的早期诊断以及活动性判断具有重要价值。     

Follow-up electron beam CT for the management of early phase Takayasu arteritis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to assess typical findings of Takayasu arteritis on serial CT examinations following therapy. METHOD: Serial CT studies were performed on 16 patients with early phase Takayasu arteritis. Mural or luminal changes of the aorta on successive CT scans were compared with clinical data. RESULTS: Vascular lesions progressed during follow-up in 6 of 16 patients. In one patient, progression of lesions was symptomatic. In the other five of six patients with worsening lesions, vascular progression occurred without new clinical symptoms and was first identified on CT scans. One of these five had dilatation of the ascending aorta and required aortic repair. Four others had progression of stenotic vascular lesions leading to changes in medical treatment only or in combination with either surgery or angioplasty. For two of them, CT examinations showed decreased mural lesions after changes in medical treatment. CONCLUSION: CT examinations performed in treated patients with Takayasu arteritis demonstrate either regression, stabilization, or progression of vascular lesions. Serial CT examinations may thus be useful for evaluating response to treatment.     

MRI和螺旋CT对主动脉夹层的对比研究及其临床应用

目的对比分析磁共振成像(MR I)和螺旋CT诊断主动脉夹层(AD)的影像特征,评价2种技术对临床的应用价值。方法回顾性分析经手术或临床证实的18例AD的MR I和螺旋CT表现。结果2种先进检查技术诊断AD的敏感性和特异性均较高,能不同程度地显示AD的范围及其分型、真假腔、内膜片和内膜破口、附壁血栓和壁内血肿、主动脉的扩张和狭窄及其分支血管受累情况。结论对疑有AD者应行MR I或螺旋CT检查,MR I与CT对病变范围及分型、真假腔及主动脉的狭窄和扩张的显示相似;而内膜片、内膜破口、附壁血栓和壁内血肿、主动脉整体及分支受累的显示MR I明显优于螺旋CT;对内膜及主动脉壁钙化、急危重者的检查螺旋CT优于MR I。     

Takayasu arteritis: diagnosis with MR imaging and MR angiography in acute and chronic active stages.

Early diagnosis and treatment of Takayasu arteritis is important in prevention of serious complications. Spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can depict early wall thickening of the aorta and cine MRI can evaluate aortic valve function. Significant enhancement in and around the aorta and carotid arteries is observed on postcontrast MR images in acute phase Takayasu arteritis. In the chronic phase, contrast enhancement in the aortic wall stronger than in the myocardium suggests activity of the disease. Breath-hold contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography is very effective in noninvasive evaluation of luminal change of aortitis. Contrast-enhanced MRI and MR angiography have an important role in early diagnosis, activity determination, and follow-up of Takayasu arteritis. MRI and MR angiography can be utilized for initial diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis and replace catheterization angiography. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:751-757.     

Patología aórtica no urgente: diagnóstico clínico-radiológico de la aortitis

Aortitis is a pathological term designating inflammation of the aortic wall, regardless of its cause. The clinical presentation of aortitis is nonspecific and variable. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss; acute phase reactants may also be elevated. Aortitis can be caused by a wide spectrum of entities, including from infectious processes to autoimmune diseases (Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis are among the most common of these causing aortitis), and the prognosis and treatment of these entities vary widely. Various imaging techniques can be used to evaluate the lumen and wall of the aorta (such as multidetector computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography, or PET-CT). This review focuses on the most common diseases that cause aortitis and on the clinical and radiological findings that are most useful for diagnosing and treating this condition appropriately.     

Radiation-induced arteritis: thickened wall with prominent enhancement on cranial MR images report of five cases and comparison with 18 cases of Moyamoya disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of radiation-induced cranial arteritis regarding arterial wall thickening and degree of enhancement, as well as to compare the findings with those of idiopathic moyamoya disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed cerebral MR images in five patients with radiation-induced large cerebral arteritis. All patients had undergone irradiation 2-25 years prior to this study. Conventional nonenhanced MR, MR angiographic, and contrast material-enhanced MR images were evaluated. Special attention was paid to wall enhancement of the affected arteries (distal internal carotid artery). Wall enhancement was staged in three levels by two neuroradiologists. We also reviewed MR images in 18 patients with primary moyamoya disease for comparison and analyzed them statistically (Fisher exact test). RESULTS: Wall thickening and prominent ring enhancement of the wall of the affected large cerebral arteries were observed in all (five of five) patients with radiation-induced arteritis. In contrast, wall thickening and prominent ring enhancement of the wall of the occluded arteries either were not seen (13 of 18 patients) or were faint (five of 18 patients) in patients with moyamoya disease. Contrast enhancement of the arterial walls in patients with radiation-induced arteritis was significantly more prominent than in patients with moyamoya disease (P =.003). CONCLUSION: MR images of wall thickening and prominent ring enhancement of the wall of affected large cerebral arteries may be a diagnostic clue in differentiating radiation-induced arteritis from moyamoya disease.     

Greater thickness of the aortic wall on postmortem computed tomography compared with antemortem computed tomography: the first longitudinal study

Objectives

To evaluate postmortem changes of the aorta on postmortem computed tomography (CT) in comparison with those on antemortem CT obtained in the same patients.

Materials and Methods

We studied 57 consecutive patients who had undergone antemortem CT, postmortem CT, and pathological autopsy in our tertiary care hospital between April 2009 and December 2010. Postmortem CT was performed within 20 h after death, followed by pathological autopsy. Pathological autopsy confirmed the absence of cardiovascular disease such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, or Marfan syndrome in all patients. Aortic wall thickness and aortic cross-sectional areas were measured on both antemortem CT and postmortem CT. Difference in aortic wall thickness between antemortem CT with and without contrast medium, and between antemortem CT and postmortem CT, and in cross-sectional area of the aortic wall between antemortem CT and postmortem CT was evaluated statistically.

Results

No significant difference in aortic wall thickness was observed on antemortem CT in comparison of contrasted and non-contrasted images. The aortic wall was significantly thicker on postmortem CT than on antemortem CT (p?Conclusion This is the first longitudinal study to confirm greater thickness of the aortic wall on postmortem images compared with antemortem images in the same patients and to show no change in cross-sectional area of the aortic wall between before and after death.