role of C.T. in Takayasu's disease: a case report and review of the literature

ABSTRACT

An aortogram and CT scan were performed on a sixteen year old African girl with a clinical diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis. The aortogram revealed narrowing of the middle part of the descending aorta, the main branches of aortic arch and the mid-third portion of abdominal aorta with complete obstruction of the left renal artery. CT scan confirmed the angiographic findings of the thoracic aorta and it's main branches, but in addition, it showed thickening and increased density of the wall of the involved arteries and also revealed that the wall of the normal-looking lumen of the aorta on the angiogram was also thickened and dense. The same changes were noted in the wall of the SVC and the intrahepatic portion of IVC. Our patient showed a good clinical response to steroid therapy. Yet the follow-up CT, about 9 months after steroid therapy, revealed no reduction in the degree of thickness of the wall of the aorta although there had been an increase in peri-aortic infiltration around the aortic arch. It is suggested that CT scan could be used as a non-invasive technique in the follow-up of the case and to assess the response to treatment