[Ultrasonography of temporal arteries in suspected temporal arteritis].
BACKGROUND
In order to avoid complications in temporal arteritis, early diagnosis and start of treatment is essential. In many cases, however, the symptoms and clinical signs are non-specific. Surgical biopsy has disadvantages, and false-negative results occur.


METHODS
The use of colour Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis is described, based on a PubMed search and our clinical experience. Two case histories are included.


CONCLUSIONS
In recent literature, colour Doppler sonography is described as a new, non-invasive diagnostic tool for temporal arteritis with reported high diagnostic accuracy. The periluminal halo is assumed to represent infiltration and oedema in the arterial wall. Sonography may become a valuable contribution in the diagnostic work-up of patients with non-specific symptoms, and in others patients for guiding the surgical biopsy to an optimal site. It might also be possible to avoid surgical biopsy in selected patients with typical sonographic findings.
Edenberg
Jan
J
Radiologisk avdeling Sykehuset Innlandet Lillehammer, 2629 Lillehammer. jan.edenberg@sykehuset-innlandet.no
Kvambe
Vidar
V
Sandstad
Eldbjørg
E
Hagen
Ivar Jo
IJ
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color