Takayasu arteritis diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging - A case report

Takayasu arteritis is an inflammatory process of the aorta and its major branches. It often occurs in young Asian females. Clinical manifestation and conventional arteriography are the bases of diagnosis. In early phase, inflammation involves all layers of vessels and periaortic tissue to cause aortic wall thickening. Conventional arteriography may not show these mural changes in the great vessels. In late occlusive phase, both the conventional arteriography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may show luminal changes such as stenosis, occlusion, aneurysm, collateral branches and dilatation of aorta or pulmonary artery. MR imaging and MR angiography have been used to replace conventional arteriogram for diagnosis and follow-up after treatment due to their non-invasive nature and absence of radiation exposure. Furthermore, MR imaging can detect abnormality in vessel wall in early phase of the disease. In Taiwan, reports on the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis based on MR imaging and MR angiography are rare. We report a 44-year-old female diagnosed as late occlusive phase of Takayasu arteritis according to American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria and magnetic resonance imaging.