The role of B-mode ultrasonography and electron beam computed tomography in evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis: A study of 43 patients

Objectives: To evaluate the capacity of B-Mode ultrasonography (B-Mode US) and electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) to detect arterial changes in Takayasu's arteritis. Methods: EBCT angiography of the thoracoabdominal aorta and pulmonary arter y, and B-mode US of large superficial arteries (common carotid, subclavian, and common femoral arteries) were performed prospectively in 43 consecutiv e patients with established Takayasu's arteritis. The arterial wall thickne ss was measured, and lumen changes (stenosis, aneurysm) were noted. Results: The combined results of B-Mode US and EBCT examinations showed tha t every patient had at least one abnormality at the studied sites, The medi an score of abnormal sites was 7, The most frequent lesion was a characteri stic long, homogeneous, circumferential thickening, visualized in 52% of ex amined sites and in all patients but one (98%), Stenosis was detected by US and by EBCT, respectively, in 44% and 32% of patients, and aneurysm in 0.4 % and 68%. Conclusions: In Takayasu's arteritis, B-Mode US and EBCT was able to visual ize the classical caliber abnormalities (stenosis, aneurysm) and, in contra st to angiography, to depict vessel wall thickening, a major pathologic fea ture of the disease. Both these safe techniques seem more useful than angio graphy to characterize and map the vascular lesions of Takayasu's arteritis , Copyright (C) 2000 by W,B. Saunders Company.