Premium
High‐Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Scalp Arteries for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis: Results of a Prospective Cohort Study
Author(s) -
Rhéaume Maxime,
Rebello Ryan,
Pagnoux Christian,
Carette Simon,
ClementsBaker Marie,
CohenHallaleh Violette,
DoucettePreville David,
Stanley Jackson B.,
Salama Sargious Salama Samih,
Ioannidis George,
Khalidi Nader A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
arthritis and rheumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.106
H-Index - 314
eISSN - 2326-5205
pISSN - 2326-5191
DOI - 10.1002/art.39824
Subject(s) - giant cell arteritis , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , biopsy , prospective cohort study , scalp , concordance , arteritis , vasculitis , magnetic resonance angiography , predictive value of tests , temporal artery , pathology , surgery , disease
Objective To examine the concordance between high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the scalp arteries and temporal artery biopsy for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with suspected GCA. Participants underwent high‐field 3T MRI of the scalp arteries followed by temporal artery biopsy. Arterial wall thickness and enhancement on multiplanar postcontrast T1‐weighted spin‐echo images were graded according to a published severity scale (range 0–3). MRI findings were compared with temporal artery biopsy results and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for GCA. Results One hundred seventy‐one patients were included in the study. Temporal artery biopsy findings were positive in 31 patients (18.1%), and MRI findings were abnormal in 60 patients (35.1%). ACR criteria were met in 137 patients (80.1%). With temporal artery biopsy as the reference test, MRI had a sensitivity of 93.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 78.6–99.2) and a specificity of 77.9% (95% CI 70.1–84.4). The corresponding negative predictive value of MRI was 98.2% (95% CI 93.6–99.8) and positive predictive value was 48.3% (95% CI 35.2–61.6). Conclusion In patients with suspected GCA, normal findings on scalp artery MRI are very strongly associated with negative temporal artery biopsy findings. This suggests that MRI could be used as the initial diagnostic procedure in GCA, with temporal artery biopsy being reserved for patients with abnormal MRI findings.