Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the early diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis is a non-specific inflammatory process of unknown aetiology affecting the aorta and its major branches. It may lead to stenosis or occlusion. We have examined eight patients with clinically diagnosed Takayasu arteritis using contrast-enhanced MRI and also 3-D MR angiography. All patients were female and their ages varied between 22 and 48 years. We were able to show subtle arteritic changes and stenotic lesions in branch vessels in the early phase of the disease by using this imaging modality. Thus, we can state that contrast-enhanced MRI with 3-D MR angiography can be used for the initial diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. It provides a means to evaluate the vascular tree non-invasively and may replace conventional angiography.