Radiological evaluation of vasculo-Behcet's disease

ABSTRACT

In order to study the vascular manifestation of Behcet's disease, authors analized retrospectively the radiological and clinical features of 22 patients who were diagnosed as vasculo-Behcet's disease. The angiographic findings were aneurysm formation and occlusion of artery and vein, Aneurysm formations were found at common carotid artery (3 cases), abdominal aorta (2 cases), aortic arch (2 cases), innominate artery (2 cases) etc. Arterial occlusions were found at pulmonary artery (2 cases), subclavian artery (1 cases), brachial artery (1 case), common femoral artery (1 case) etc. Venous occlusions were found at the veins of the lower extremities including superficial femoral vein (18 cases), IVC (2 cases), SVC (1 case), and lateral sinus (1 case). The clinical features were similar to that of Behcet's disease without vascular involvement, but incidence of vascular involvement was more common in men and interval between the onset of the disease and vascular symptoms was 1-16 years(77%) and common associated symptoms were oral ulcers(59%) and skin lesions(55%). Angiographically the morphological featured of vasculo-Behcet's disease are not specific, but vascular radiologist must be aware of vascular involvement by Behcet's disease in differential diagnosis when occlusive changes in the venous or arterial tree, or aneurysm formation are seen in young patients.