MR angiography of aneurysms in Behçet disease: a report of four cases

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MR angiography (MRA) in Behçet disease patients with arterial aneurysms. Avoidance of angiography is desirable in patients with Behçet disease because arterial angiography carries the risk of pseudoaneurysm formation at the puncture site and intravenous digital subtraction angiography is frequently complicated by puncture site thrombophlebitis in this patient group.

Four men with Behçet disease and aneurysms were evaluated with MRA. The patients ranged between 30 and 48 years of age. All subjects had known Behçet disease for > 10 years. Multiplanar T1-weighted images were followed by 2D breath-hold MRA without gadolinium administration for chest studies and 2D-TOF MRA for the extremities.

One aortic arch, one descending aorta, one pulmonary artery, one common femoral artery, and one popliteal artery aneurysm were depicted in four subjects with MRA. Surgery was successfully performed in three subjects without the need for further angiographic workup. One subject with two aneurysms in the thoracic aorta is currently under steroid treatment.

MRA combined with T1-weighted SE images adequately demonstrated the aneurysms in four patients and made it possible to avoid contrast angiography.