Imaging in vasculitis

Vasculitides may involve small, medium-sized or large arteries. In small-Vessel vasculitides imaging studies of lungs, nasal sinuses, cerebrum, heart and other organs are important for determining disease extension and disease activity. Aneurysms are a hallmark of medium-sized artery vasculitides. In large-vessel vasculitis, imaging studies depict homogeneous, circumferential wall swelling and smoothly tapered luminal narrowing. Ultrasound, and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show characteristic wall abnormalities in temporal and occipital arteries whereas ultrasound, MRI; MR angiography, computed tomography (CT), CT angiography and positron emission tomography delineate characteristic features in extra-cranial arteries that are affected in large-vessel giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis and idiopathic aortitis. Conventional angiography has still its place for therapeutic interventions. Imaging has led to a better understanding of the nature and distribution of vasculitides. It significantly facilitates diagnosis of patients with suspected vasculitis. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.