title: Clinical usefulness of multiplanar reconstruction images obtained by multi-slice computed tomographic angiography for early-stage Takayasu's arteritis.
abstract: We describe a case of Takayasu's arteritis discovered during the early stage (pre-pulseless stage). Cervical ultrasonography and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images obtained by computed tomography (CT) showed thickening and stenosis of the walls of the common carotid arteries. However, magnetic resonance arteriography (MRA), volume rendering (VR) imaging CT, and maximum intensity projection (MIP) imaging CT could detect no obvious abnormality. We emphasize the importance of noninvasive vascular investigation with cervical ultrasonography and MPR imaging CT to support the diagnosis of early-stage Takayasu's arteritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology, Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 543 Takoda, Tobe, Ehime 791-2101, Japan. esada@epu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sada
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Kikue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwamasa
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Teruhito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita