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.