[Diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis affecting carotid arteries with multi-slice spiral CT].
OBJECTIVE
To explore changes in the carotid arteries in Tarkayasu arteritis (TA) with computed tomographic angiography (CTA).


METHODS
The common carotid artery intima-medial thickness (CCA-IMT) in 20 common carotid arteries (CCAs) in 10 controls and 40 CCAs in 20 patients with TA were analyzed and compared.


RESULTS
Contrast-enhanced CT scanning combined with the application of 3D reconstruction clearly showed the carotid vascular luminal abnormalities, such as stenosis, occlusion, dilation, and aneurysm formation. CCA-IMT increased in all the patients with TA affecting carotid arteries. CCA-IMT was significantly larger in the patients than in controls [(0.36 +/- 0.13) cm vs. (0.03 +/- 0.02) cm, P < 0.05] , and was significantly larger in patients with active diseases than in those without active diseases [(0.44 +/- 0.09) cm vs. (0.24 +/- 0.10) cm, P < 0.05].


CONCLUSIONS
CCA-IMT increases in TA affecting carotid arteries, especially in active diseases.
Liu
Wei
W
Department of Radiology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Xue
Hua-dan
HD
Jin
Zheng-yu
ZY
Li
Ming-li
ML
Zhang
Feng-chun
FC
Hou
Yong
Y
Wang
Yun
Y
Zhao
Wen-min
WM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*