Colour Doppler ultrasonography value in diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (Temporal arteritis )

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis is a systemic vasculitis with certain complications such as vision loss, in which case is considered as an oftalmologist emergency. For many causes its diagnosis and treatment its usually delayed. In the last years the development of the ultrasonography has shown its utility in the
diagnosis for the presence of different signs, being characteristic of giant cell arteritis the hypoechoic halo due to an oedema of the artery wall. We show a typical clinical case that fulfills the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, Which diagnosis and following was complemented with colour doppler for the superficial temporal artery and neck vessels.
The main objective of the current communication is to reaffirm the utility and the value of this diagnosis method, subutilized in our clinical practice, for patients with giant cell arteritis.