Vijayaraghavan N, Martin J, Jayawickrama W, Otome O. Atypical giant cell arteritis presentations diagnosed with FDG-18 whole body PET imaging.
BMJ Case Rep 2023;
16:e251406. [PMID:
36631167 PMCID:
PMC9835878 DOI:
10.1136/bcr-2022-251406]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Two male patients aged above 70 years were investigated for chronic non-specific symptoms and evidence of significant systemic inflammation, but without classic 'cranial symptoms' of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Each patient had multiple non-diagnostic investigations, but finally extensive large-vessel vasculitis was revealed by whole body positron emission tomography/CT imaging. Both cases were confirmed to have GCA on temporal artery biopsy and responded well to initial high-dose prednisolone therapy. The patients successfully completed 12 months of steroid-sparing therapy with tocilizumab and achieved remission of their condition.
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