title: Multimodality imaging of aortitis.
abstract: Multimodality imaging of aortitis is useful for identification of acute and chronic mural changes due to inflammation, edema, and fibrosis, as well as characterization of structural luminal changes including aneurysm and stenosis or occlusion. Identification of related complications such as dissection, hematoma, ulceration, rupture, and thrombosis is also important. Imaging is often vital for obtaining specific diagnoses (i.e., Takayasu arteritis) or is used adjunctively in atypical cases (i.e., giant cell arteritis). The extent of disease is established at baseline, with associated therapeutic and prognostic implications. Imaging of aortitis may be useful for screening, routine follow up, and evaluation of treatment response in certain clinical settings. Localization of disease activity and structural abnormality is useful for guiding biopsy or surgical revascularization or repair. In this review, we discuss the available imaging modalities for diagnosis and management of the spectrum of aortitis disorders that cardiovascular physicians should be familiar with for facilitating optimal patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: ghartla@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hartlage
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palios
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Bruce J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Arthur E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Stillman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bossone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lerakis
mesh_terms: D001025:Aortitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: aortic aneurysm; aortitis; arteritis; computed tomography; echocardiography; magnetic resonance; positron emmision tomography; vascular ultrasound