A case of multiorgan IgG4-related disease with coronary artery vasculitis: Review of the 2019 Rheumatologic Classification Guidelines and what radiologists need to know
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare fibroinflammatory disorder with diverse manifestations that can affect nearly any organ system. This case report describes a 58-year-old man presenting with obstructive jaundice due to a biliary stricture concerning for cholangiocarcinoma; however, eventual pathology, serology and imaging findings confirmed IgG4-RD. Over 2 years, the disease progressed to involve multiple organs, including 3-vessel coronary arteritis, a serious but underrecognized manifestation that may present with the ``pigs-in-a-blanket" sign on imaging. Despite treatment, the patient ultimately suffered a fatal cardiac event soon after. This case underscores the importance of recognizing characteristic imaging features, particularly those outlined in the 2019 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria, which can act as a framework for radiologists and clinicians in early diagnosis. Prompt recognition, multidisciplinary collaboration, and timely treatment are essential to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
Authors
- Jasmine Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4231-8522)
- A.R. Abd Ghani
- Ali Mohammadzadeh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3168-2599)
- Cato Chan
- J.J. Shi
Institutions
- University of California, Irvine Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Radiology Case Reports
- Published
- 2025-08-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2025.07.022
- Primary Topic
- IgG4-Related and Inflammatory Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00