Accurately Diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis

In a case-control study, sensitivity and specificity of positron-emission tomography/computed tomography were 82% and 100%, respectively.

When a patient presents with visual symptoms (e.g., jaw claudication, headache, visual symptoms), a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is obvious, but many cases are not so straightforward. In such patients, temporal artery (TA) biopsies might be nonspecific or negative, and ultrasounds are very user dependent.

In a retrospective, case-controlled study, researchers evaluated the accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) of cranial arteries for diagnosing CGA. The test was performed prior to administration of corticosteroids in 44 patients with confirmed GCA (based on American College of Rheumatology criteria and 6 months of follow-up observation; 35 of 41 had p…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Accurately Diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis

Topics

Reviewing Author