Imaging Challenges and Developments in Large-vessel Vasculitis

Abstract

Vascular imaging is an integral part of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) evaluation and management. Several imaging modalities are currently employed in clinical practice including vascular ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, MRI and magnetic resonance angiography, and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Well-established roles for imaging in LVV include disease diagnosis and assessment of luminal lesions reflecting vascular damage. The ability of imaging to determine treatment response, monitor disease activity, and predict future arterial damage is an area of active research.

Keywords: Computed tomography angiography; Giant cell arteritis; Imaging; Large-vessel vasculitis; Magnetic resonance angiography; Takayasu’s arteritis; Temporal arteritis; Ultrasound.