| Assessment of the cranial involvement pattern of giant cell arteritis with 3T magnetic resonance imaging. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 16052572 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
OBJECTIVE: To noninvasively determine the involvement pattern of the cranial arteries in giant cell arteritis (GCA), with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: The superficial cranial arteries of 21 patients with suspected GCA were examined using a 3T high-field MRI scanner. Postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo images were acquired with submillimeter spatial resolution, to assess mural thickness and lumen diameter of the major cranial arteries on both sides of the head. In all cases, MRI results were compared with findings of clinical examination and laboratory tests. In addition, temporal artery biopsy specimens from 10 patients were examined by histology. RESULTS: MRI sharply revealed all of the major superficial cranial arteries, allowing for an evaluation of their lumen and vessel wall. Nine of the 21 patients were diagnosed as having GCA according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. In all of these patients with clinically diagnosed GCA, multiple cranial arteries showed signs of inflammation on MRI. In 1 patient, the occipital arteries were inflamed, while the temporal arteries were spared. CONCLUSION: Postcontrast high-resolution MRI visualizes the major cranial arteries on both sides of the head within a single examination. The cranial involvement pattern in GCA can be assessed precisely and noninvasively. In the majority of GCA patients, several cranial arteries were affected simultaneously, with a predominance of involvement of the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery. Inflammation of the occipital arteries, with sparing of the temporal arteries, was also encountered. |
| | |
Authors:
|
T A Bley; O Weiben; M Uhl; P Vaith; D Schmidt; K Warnatz; M Langer |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Arthritis and rheumatism Volume: 52 ISSN: 0004-3591 ISO Abbreviation: Arthritis Rheum. Publication Date: 2005 Aug |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2005-08-04 Completed Date: 2005-08-31 Revised Date: 2007-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0370605 Medline TA: Arthritis Rheum Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 2470-7 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
|
University of Freiburg, Germany. bley@mrsl.ukl.uni-freiburg.de |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Aged Aged, 80 and over Arteries / pathology Biopsy Echo-Planar Imaging* Female Giant Cell Arteritis / diagnosis*, pathology Humans Male Middle Aged Skull / blood supply* Temporal Arteries / pathology |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of uveitis that is resistant to treatment with the combinati...
Next Document: Randomized trial of cyclophosphamide versus methotrexate for induction of remission in early systemi...