Giant cell arteritis (GCA) remains a diagnostic challenge. With the use of a high-resolution MRI protocol, visualization of
the superficial cranial arteries is feasible and mural inflammation can be assessed noninvasively. Until today, it is not
known how soon inflammatory signals in diagnostic MR imaging vanish after initiation of treatment. Here, we report sequential
MR imaging findings during the initial weeks of corticosteroid treatment in a 79-year-old female patient with histologically
proven GCA. Mural inflammatory changes decreased within the first 2 weeks and have almost entirely vanished after 2 1/2 months
of continued treatment. Moreover, MR angiography revealed sequential stenoses of the subclavian artery, which improved in
variable extent with some residuals despite high dose steroid medication. This report underlines the value of high-resolution
MRI in diagnosis and follow-up of GCA and illustrates the potential of MRI to detect and monitor intra- and extra-cranial
involvement patterns of GCA in high detail.
Keywords Arteries - Corticosteroids - Giant cell arteritis - MR angiography - Vasculitis