Imaging in Takayasu Disease

Takayasu disease is a chronic inflammatory arteritis mainly affecting the aorta and its main branches. Imaging plays an important role in assessing vascular damage. Angiography-CT/ Angiography-MRI shows circumferential parietal thickening of the large vessels with contrast enhancement, stenoses, occlusions or segmental dilatations of the arteries involved (aorta, subclavian arteries, carotid arteries, renal arteries, etc.), the possible presence of aneurysms and signs of neovascularisation in the affected areas. Doppler ultrasound of the supra-aortic trunks and peripheral arteries shows thickened and hypoechoic arterial walls, reduced vessel calibre with turbulent flow or reduced blood flow. These tests can be used to assess the extent of lesions, make the diagnosis and monitor progress under treatment. We report one case of Takayasu disease to provide a better understanding of the radiological signs.