title: Histological diagnosis of atypical Takayasu arteritis using percutaneous transluminal atherectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of percutaneous directional atherectomy to aid in the diagnosis of atypical Takayasu arteritis in the lower limb vessels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 24-year-old woman with severe peripheral artery disease (Rutherford-Becker category 5), imaging showed bilateral occlusion of the superficial femoral arteries (SFA), but no lesions of the proximal or supra-aortic vessels. The right SFA was treated first; after guidewire passage through the occlusion, 7 passes of the SilverHawk Peripheral Atherectomy Catheter debulked the lesion, followed by balloon angioplasty. Catheter biopsy showed inflammatory infiltrates consistent with Takayasu arteritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy is not only an interventional device but also a diagnostic tool and can be used to distinguish between inflammatory and atherosclerotic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Angiologie, Herz-Zentrum Bad Krozingen, Germany. ulrich.beschorner@herzzentrum.de
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Beschorner
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.forename: Aljoscha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rastan
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sixt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017073:Atherectomy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*