TY - JOUR T1 - EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis SP - 636 LP - 643 DO - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212649 VL - 77 IS - 5 AU - Christian Dejaco AU - Sofia Ramiro AU - Christina Duftner AU - Florent L Besson AU - Thorsten A Bley AU - Daniel Blockmans AU - Elisabeth Brouwer AU - Marco A Cimmino AU - Eric Clark AU - Bhaskar Dasgupta AU - Andreas P Diamantopoulos AU - Haner Direskeneli AU - Annamaria Iagnocco AU - Thorsten Klink AU - Lorna Neill AU - Cristina Ponte AU - Carlo Salvarani AU - Riemer H J A Slart AU - Madeline Whitlock AU - Wolfgang A Schmidt Y1 - 2018/05/01 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/77/5/636.abstract N2 - To develop evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV) including giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) standardised operating procedures were followed. A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve data on the role of imaging modalities including ultrasound, MRI, CT and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) in LVV. Based on evidence and expert opinion, the task force consisting of 20 physicians, healthcare professionals and patients from 10 EULAR countries developed recommendations, with consensus obtained through voting. The final level of agreement was voted anonymously. A total of 12 recommendations have been formulated. The task force recommends an early imaging test in patients with suspected LVV, with ultrasound and MRI being the first choices in GCA and TAK, respectively. CT or PET may be used alternatively. In case the diagnosis is still in question after clinical examination and imaging, additional investigations including temporal artery biopsy and/or additional imaging are required. In patients with a suspected flare, imaging might help to better assess disease activity. The frequency and choice of imaging modalities for long-term monitoring of structural damage remains an individual decision; close monitoring for aortic aneurysms should be conducted in patients at risk for this complication. All imaging should be performed by a trained specialist using appropriate operational procedures and settings. These are the first EULAR recommendations providing up-to-date guidance for the role of imaging in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with (suspected) LVV. ER -