title: The role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow-up of large-vessel vasculitis: an update.
abstract: Large-vessel vasculitides comprise giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arteritis. In both conditions, early changes consist of transmural inflammation of the arterial wall, while later complications include lumen changes, such as stenoses or aneurysms. Colour Doppler sonography has the ability to depict the arterial wall as well as the lumen, and is therefore ideally suited both to diagnose early vasculitis and to monitor patients over time. In this review article, we addressed the following issues: 1) the role of colour Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of large-vessel vasculitis and its common pitfalls; 2) whether colour Doppler sonography can increase the yield of temporal artery biopsy in giant cell arteritis; 3) the role of colour Doppler sonography in monitoring patients with LVV over time; and 4) how colour Doppler sonography performs compared to other imaging techniques.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Germanò
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponte
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Niccolo'
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Possemato
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caporali
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macchioni
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy. pipitone.nicolo@asmn.re.it.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pipitone
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*