Diagnostic value of 3D contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in Takayasu's arteritis-a comparative study with digital subtraction angiography

To assess the diagnostic value of 3D CEMRA in TA compared with DSA. Twenty-two patients with clinically suspected TA based on 1990 ACR criteria for the classification of TA, were included in this study. There were 16 female and 6 male patients with ages ranging from 11 to 50 years (mean age 25 years). CEMRA and DSA were performed in all patients within 4 weeks of each other, for detection of stenosis, occlusion and aneurysm in the arch vessels, renal arteries and aortic segments. (1) TA was confirmed by CEMRA in all patients. (2) 147 arteries did not reveal any steno-occlusive lesion on CEMRA compared with 158 on DSA. (3) 75 stenoses, (excluding occlusions) were detected on CEMRA compared with DSA, which revealed 65 stenotic lesions, with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and DA for detection of a significant (> 50%) stenotic lesion being 98.33%, 97.25%, 92.18%, 99.43% and 97.52% respectively. (4) Aneurysmal dilatation was detected in 13 arteries on CEMRA compared with 16 on DSA. Diagnostic value of CEMRA is comparable to that of DSA with a very strong and statistically significant correlation between DSA and CEMRA in detection and grading of characteristic steno-occlusive lesions of TA.