title: Temporal 67gallium uptake is increased in temporal arteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated temporal 67gallium (Ga) uptake in temporal arteritis (TA) and the contribution of Ga scans to the diagnosis of TA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ga scans were performed prospectively in 19 patients with biopsy-proven TA and five TA patients with negative temporal artery biopsy. Controls were 18 elderly patients undergoing Ga scans for various inflammatory diseases. The temporal region of interest on head profiles was defined for comparison of uptake with a control parietal region of the same area. The Ga uptake ratio (GaUR) [(temporal region - parietal region)/parietal region] was evaluated for each temple by a computer and intra- and intergroup comparisons were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GaUR was significantly higher in biopsy-proven TA patients (0.35+/-0.19) and biopsy-negative TA patients (0.31+/-0.03) than in controls (0.18+/-0.12) (P < 0.001), independently of recent temporal artery biopsy or short-duration steroid therapy. High GaUR (>0.4) had a 94% specificity and a 90% positive predictive value for TA diagnosis. After 6 months of steroid therapy, when patients were in remission, GaUR returned to baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ga is specifically incorporated into the temporal area in TA patients which may be due to the granulomatous vasculitic process. Ga uptake ceases during remission. A high GaUR may contribute to TA diagnosis in temporal artery biopsy-negative patients and its role in the diagnosis of other localizations of the disease requires further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine of Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris-Nord, Bobigny, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Généreau
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lortholary
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cacoub
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galezowski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chérin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Babinet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herreman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caillat-Vigneron
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes