Técnicas de imagen útiles en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de las vasculitis de grandes vasos: eco-doppler, angio-TC, angio-RM

Abstract

Although most vasculitis require histological proof for a definitive diagnosis, diagnostic imaging can be very helpful in this regard, allowing a proper evaluation of the vascular system and monitoring the response to treatment. Even though vasculitis is constituted by different pathological substrates, they show a common semiologic pattern from a radiological standpoint which is represented by inflammation, arterial wall thickening, and potential secondary development of vascular stenosis, occlusions or aneurysms. Differential diagnosis among diverse entities is based, beside clinical criteria, on the anatomical location and topography of the affected vascular territory. The general radiologic semiology is described in this paper from the perspective of the different imaging techniques, addressing their main advantages and drawbacks. Proper knowledge of this techniques will allow us to select the most appropiate one for each clinical condition.