A case of silent giant cell arteritis involving the entire aorta, carotid artery and brachial artery screened by integrated PET/CT.
We report a case of giant cell arteritis involving the aorta and several large arteries identified by integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) obtained in a patient with a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). A 63-year-old man with anemia and a high ESR noted on a regular medical examination was transferred to our department. The patient complained of only a low-grade general weakness for several months; there were no specific symptoms or signs. A PET was recommended. The image showed strong (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake at the ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, thoraco-lumbar aorta, brachial artery, and the carotid artery wall, bilaterally. Suspicious for large-vessel vasculitis, a temporal artery biopsy was performed, which confirmed giant cell arteritis. After treatment with prednisolone, the high ESR and anemia resolved, and (18)F-FDG uptake decreased on follow-up integrated PET/CT.
Kwon
Chang Mo
CM
Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
Hong
Yeong Hoon
YH
Chun
Kyung Ah
KA
Cho
Ihn Ho
IH
Kim
Mi Jin
MJ
Shin
Dong Gu
DG
Hyun
Myung Soo
MS
Kim
Young Jo
YJ
D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000494:pharmacology; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18