Takayasu arteritis: evaluation of mural changes in the aorta and pulmonary artery with CT angiography.

PURPOSE

To evaluate mural changes in the aorta and pulmonary artery in Takayasu arteritis by using computed tomographic (CT) angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CT angiography was prospectively performed in 12 women with Takayasu arteritis and in 10 healthy adults. Scanning included three distinct phases: precontrast (before administration of contrast material), arterial, and delayed.

RESULTS

Precontrast transverse images revealed a high-attenuation aortic wall (10 patients) and mural calcifications in the aorta (nine patients). Arterial-phase images revealed circumferential wall thickening of 1-4 mm in all patients and enhancement in five patients with active disease. Delayed-phase CT revealed circumferential enhancement in eight patients. A concentric, low-attenuation ring was also identified inside the aorta on the arterial-phase (two patients) and delayed-phase (three patients) images. In the pulmonary artery, wall thickening was revealed with early and delayed enhancement in two patients.

CONCLUSION

CT angiography may demonstrate changes in the vascular wall in patients with Takayasu arteritis.