TAKAYASU ARTERITIS - PROTEAN RADIOLOGIC MANIFESTATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis is difficult because the clinical feat ures are similar to those of other diseases, In early-phase Takayasu a rteritis, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging show thickening of the aortic wall, Late-phase Takayasu arteritis has been classified into four types: classic pulseless disease (type I), a mixed type (type II), the atypical coarctation type (type III), and the dilated type (type TV), In late-phase Takayasu arteritis, angiogra phy usually demonstrates luminal changes such as stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta and pulmonary artery and their b ranches, However, absence of such luminal changes does not exclude the possibility of early-phase Takayasu arteritis, Improvement in the cli nical findings and subsidence of the active inflammatory process can b e expected with early steroid treatment, Familiarity with the varied c hest radiographic, angiographic, CT, and MR imaging features of Takaya su arteritis will permit earlier diagnosis and treatment.