Multimodality Imaging in Cranial Giant Cell Arteritis: First Experience with High-Resolution T1-Weighted 3D Black Blood without Contrast Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 81
• Main Authors: Brittain, Jane Maestri, Hansen, Michael Stormly, Carlsen, Jonathan Frederik, Brandt, Andreas Hjelm, Terslev, Lene, Jensen, Mads Radmer, Lindberg, Ulrich, Larsson, Henrik Bo Wiberg, Heegaard, Steffen, Døhn, Uffe Møller, Klefter, Oliver Niels, Wiencke, Anne Katrine, Subhi, Yousif, Hamann, Steffen, Haddock, Bryan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.12.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: 3D black blood; Carotid arteries; FDG PET/CT; giant cell arteritis; Inflammation; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical imaging; MRI; Patients; Rheumatology; Scanners; Statistical analysis; Steroids; temporal artery biopsy; Tomography; Ultrasonic imaging; vascular ultrasound; Vein & artery diseases; United States > US; Netherlands; giant cell arteritis; multimodality imaging; 3D black blood; vascular ultrasound; MRI; non-contrast enhancement; FDG PET/CT; temporal artery biopsy
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14010081

In order to support or refute the clinical suspicion of cranial giant cell arteritis (GCA), a supplemental imaging modality is often required. High-resolution black blood Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BB MRI) techniques with contrast enhancement can visualize artery wall inflammation in GCA. We compared findings on BB MRI without contrast enhancement with findings on 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/low-dose computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG PET/CT) in ten patients suspected of having GCA and in five control subjects who had a 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT performed as a routine control for malignant melanoma. BB MRI was consistent with 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in 10 out of 10 cases in the group with suspected GCA. In four out of five cases in the control group, the BB MRI was consistent with 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT. In this small population, BB MRI without contrast enhancement shows promising performance in the diagnosis of GCA, and might be an applicable imaging modality in patients.