The Role of Imaging in the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Vasculitis英文电子书.pdf

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep (2010) 10:163– 170 DOI 10.1007/s11882-010-0102-6 The Role of Imaging in the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Vasculitis Lavier J. Gomes Published online: 23 March 2010 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract Cerebral vasculitis is diagnosed with difficulty. encephalopathy, and cranial nerve palsies to psychiatric Its presentation with heterogeneous symptoms and signs symptoms. This range of symptoms carries a wide often delays diagnosis. In this context, imaging plays an differential diagnosis; consequently, the diagnosis may not important role in advancing the diagnosis. Digital subtraction be suspected for a considerable period of time. Laboratory cerebral angiography, MRI, and MRA, the most useful and imaging diagnostic tests play an important role in the examinations for vasculitis, provide supportive, but not diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis. Unfortunately, no patho- pathognomonic, evidence of cerebral vasculitis. On MRI, gnomonic test for the condition exists, and a wide range of multiple infarcts in different vascular territories and of laboratory and diagnostic imaging tests are used in the different ages are suggestive of vasculitis. On digital investigation of central nervous system vasculitis. subtraction cerebral angiography, areas of stenosis, dilatation, Imaging can be used to evaluate the vessels for inflamma- and occlusion are suggestive of vasculitis. Small vessel tory changes or to investigate changes in the adjacent brain vasculitis is currently best demonstrated by changes seen in parenchyma. Cerebral angiography has been crucial in the brain parenchyma on MRI, but high field strength (7 T) diagnosis of CNS vasculitis and has been used as a surro