Doppler ultrasonography to diagnose temporal arteritis in the setting of a large community hospital

Role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis

“…All 17 papers were analysed using the QUADAS tool, and were scored as yes, no or unclear for 14 criteria. Two studies met all 14 QUADAS criteria31, 33, five studies met 136, 34–36, 39 and a further eight met 11–12 criteria19, 26, 29, 30, 32, 37, 38, 40. The remaining two studies met only nine and six criteria respectively27, 28.…”

“…The initial search identified 244 papers. After screening, 17 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria6, 19, 26–40 ( Fig. ).…”

“…Some 285 patients were diagnosed with temporal arteritis by biopsy alone and 377 were diagnosed when the ACRC were also used, including patients with a negative TA biopsy. Of the 17 studies, 12 provided data for TA biopsy and ACRC criteria6, 19, 28, 29, 31–36, 38, 39, and five provided data for TA biopsy alone26, 27, 30, 37, 40. The mean age of patients in the studies was 72 years (13 studies).…”

Ultrasonography in Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Temporal Arteritis: An Update

“…Stenosis alone demonstrated a very low sensitivity in TA because it was commonly found even in elderly patients without TA, since they are usually affected by arteriosclerosis (Schmidt et al, 1997;Schmidt & GromnicaIhle, 2003, 2005. Conversely acute occlusions, although less frequent than stenosis, were more specific for TA being rarely found in patients without TA (Schmidt et al, 1997;Schmidt & Gromnica-Ihle, 2003, 2005 Since the first description (Schmidt et al, 1997), several studies have been published on the diagnostic value of CDUS in TA with similar results (Aschwanden et al, 2010;Bley et al, 2008;Ghinoi et al, 2008;Houtman et al, 2008;Karahaliou et al, 2006;Lesar et al, 2002;Maldini et al, 2010;Morinobu et al, 2011;Murgatroyd et al, 2003;Nesher et al, 2002;Perez Lopez et al, 2009;Pfadenhauer & Weber, 2003;Reinhard et al, 2004;Romera-Villegas et al, 2004;Salvarani et al, 2002;Schmidt, 2000;Schmidt & Gromnica-Ihle, 2003;Suelves et al, 2010). In the 2005, Karassa and coll.…”

Diagnosis and Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis) – Past, Current and Future Aspects

“…The "halo-sign" may also be seen in subclavian, external carotid, occipital, axillary, facial, brachial, ulnar, common carotid, vertebral, radial and popliteal arteries (189). The frequent involvement of the occipital art e r i e s i n G C A m a y a l s o b e d e t e c t e d b y ultrasonography (190). Thus, an ultrasonographic finding of a hypoechoic halo around the lumen of the temporal arteries has been advocated as a method of making the diagnosis of GCA rendering temporal artery biopsy (TAB) superflous.…”