title: The Role of Catheter Angiography in the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Vasculitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Central nervous system vasculitis (CNSV) is a rare disorder, the pathophysiology of which is not fully understood. It involves a combination of inflammation and thrombosis. CNSV is most commonly associated with headache, gradual changes in mental status, and focal neurological symptoms. Diagnosis requires the effective use of history, laboratory testing, imaging, and biopsy. Catheter angiography can be a powerful tool in the diagnosis when common and low-frequency angiographic manifestations of CNSV are considered. We review these manifestations and their place in the diagnostic algorithm of CNSV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We reviewed the PubMed database for case series of CNSV that included 5 or more patients. Demographic and angiographic findings were collected. Angiographic findings were dichotomized between common and low-frequency findings. A system for incorporating these findings into clinical decision-making is proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNSV is a diagnostic challenge due to the absence of a true gold standard test. In the absence of such a test, catheter angiography remains a central piece of the diagnostic puzzle when appropriately employed and interpreted.
authors: Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Randall C
authors: RC
authors: Edgell
authors: Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Ahmed E
authors: AE
authors: Sarhan
authors: Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Jazba
authors: J
authors: Soomro
authors: Department of DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., USA.
authors: Collin
authors: C
authors: Einertson
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Kemp
authors: Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Peyman
authors: P
authors: Shirani
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Theodore K
authors: TK
authors: Malmstrom
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo, USA.
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Coppens
keywords: Angiitis; Angiography; Primary central nervous system vasculitis; Vasculitis