Imaging in Large Vessel Vasculitis-A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Radiology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Vasculitis encompasses rare, systemic inflammatory blood vessel conditions.
• Large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK), poses significant morbidity and mortality risks.
• Accurate diagnosis is challenging due to diverse presentations and potential false negatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review CT and CTA findings in LVV.
• To discuss the role of various imaging modalities in diagnosing and managing LVV.
• To emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in LVV patient care.

Main Methods:

• Review of typical and atypical CT and CTA findings in LVV.
• Discussion of imaging modalities such as CTA, US, MRI, and PET-CT.
• Emphasis on the radiologist's role in diagnosis and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Vascular imaging reveals key features like vessel wall thickening in LVV.
• Different imaging modalities offer complementary information for diagnosis.
• Radiological findings guide therapeutic management and prognosis assessment.

Conclusions:

• Early identification of LVV is critical to prevent organ ischemia and hemorrhage.
• Comprehensive vascular imaging is essential for accurate LVV diagnosis.
• A multidisciplinary approach involving radiologists significantly improves patient outcomes in LVV.