Fused FDG-PET and MRI imaging of Takayasu arteritis in vertebral arteries

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an inflammatory vascular disease that mainly affects the aorta and its main branches. Cerebrovascular symptoms are not common and mainly involve the carotid arteries, while the involvement of vertebral arteries is rare. We present a 24-year-old woman with TA that affected both vertebral arteries. Disease activity was detected by 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the absence of structural abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRA. Although neurological clinical symptomatology suggested the involvement of the vertebral arteries, clear imaging of the anatomical substrate appeared only possible after the fusion of FDG-PET with MRI scans. The fusion of PET and MRI images may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis of active Takayasu arteritis in rare localizations such as the vertebral arteries.