title: A case of silent giant cell arteritis involving the entire aorta, carotid artery and brachial artery screened by integrated PET/CT.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yeong Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Kyung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Ihn Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Mi Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Gu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Myung Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Young Jo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18