The use of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in Giant Cell Arteritis

Purpose: Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis of the thoracic and upper limb arteries. Diagnosis is often delayed due to misleading symptoms suggesting malignant or infectious disease. Subtypes of GCA without involvement of the superficial temporal artery (ATS) aggravate the diagnostic delay. We report the utility of CEUS (contrast-enhanced ultrasound) in GCA for initial diagnosis and for follow-up after steroid treatment. Material and methods: 3 patients with suspicion of a systemic vasculitis underwent colour duplex ultrasound (CDU) and CEUS of the upper limb arteries, the supraaortic arteries,…