title: The role of B-mode ultrasonography and electron beam computed tomography in evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis: a study of 43 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 artery, and B-mode US of large superficial arteries (common carotid, subclavian, and common femoral arteries) were performed prospectively in 43 consecutive patients with established Takayasu's arteritis. The arterial wall thickness was measured, and lumen changes (stenosis, aneurysm) were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combined results of B-Mode US and EBCT examinations showed that every patient had at least one abnormality at the studied sites. The median score of abnormal sites was 7. The most frequent lesion was a characteristic long, homogeneous, circumferential thickening, visualized in 52% of examined 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 visualize the classical caliber abnormalities (stenosis, aneurysm) and, in contrast to angiography, to depict vessel wall thickening, a major pathologic feature of the disease. Both these safe techniques seem more useful than angiography to characterize and map the vascular lesions of Takayasu's arteritis.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine, Interne Générale, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgique. Melin@mint.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rance
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beguin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bletry
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amoura
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fiessinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000792:Angiography; D002648:Child; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed