Specialised imaging including arteriography
Choosing and reading vascular imaging in suspected vasculitis. Halo and compression signs on ultrasound, FDG-PET and MR angiography in large vessel vasculitis, CT or catheter angiography for polyarteritis nodosa microaneurysms, cerebral angiography and its mimics, and when imaging replaces biopsy.
Tier 2Medical sciences concept
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Imaging answers three questions in vasculitis: is there vessel wall inflammation, where is it, and what damage has it done (stenosis, aneurysm, occlusion).
- In large vessel vasculitis it can replace biopsy. EULAR 2023 makes ultrasound first line for suspected GCA and MR angiography first line for Takayasu arteritis.
- In medium vessel vasculitis (PAN), CT or catheter angiography shows microaneurysms when there is no tissue to biopsy.
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Sources
- Dejaco C et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice: 2023 update. Ann Rheum Dis 2024;83:741-51EULAR, 2023 (current EULAR imaging recommendation, checked November 2026)
- Mukhtyar CB et al. 2025 EULAR recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica and primary large vessel vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis 2026EULAR, 2025, published online July 2026
- Chung SA et al. 2021 American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation guideline for the management of polyarteritis nodosa. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021;73:1384-93American College of Rheumatology, 2021
- Ponte C et al. 2022 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR classification criteria for giant cell arteritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2022;81:1647-53ACR and EULAR, 2022
- Schmidt WA et al. Color duplex ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis. N Engl J Med 1997;337:1336-42New England Journal of Medicine, 1997
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Rheumatology (giant cell arteritis; vasculitis)AU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG complete), current eTG edition, accessed November 2026
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy