Diagnosis of<unk>  is based on unusual medical symptoms. Similar symptoms may be caused by a number of other conditions, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome (both heritable disorders of connective tissue), tuberculosis, syphilis, spondyloarthropathies, Cogans’ syndrome, Buerger's, Behcet's, and Kawasaki disease. Various imaging techniques may be used to diagnose and monitor disease progression. Imaging modalities may include direct angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and ultrasonography. Angiography is commonly used in the diagnosis of Takayasu<unk> , especially in the advanced stages of the disease, when arterial stenosis, occlusion, and aneurysms may be observed. However, angiography is a relatively invasive investigation, exposing patients to large doses of radiation, so is not recommended for routine, long-term monitoring of disease progression in patients with Takayasu<unk> . Computed tomography angiography can determine the size of the aorta and its surrounding branches, and can identify vessel wall lesions in middle to late stages of<unk> . CTA can also show the blood flow within the blood vessels. Like angiography, CTA exposes patients to high dosages of radiation. Magnetic resonance angiography is used to diagnose Takayasu<unk>  in the early stages, showing changes such as the thickening of the vessel wall. Even small changes may be measured, making MRA a useful tool for monitoring disease progression without exposing patients to the radiation of direct angiography or CTA. MRA is an expensive investigation, and shows calcification of the aorta and distal branches less clearly than other imaging methods. Ultrasonography is an ideal method of diagnosing patients in early stages of<unk>  when inflammation in the vessel walls occurs. It can also show the blood flow within the blood vessels. Ultrasonography is a popular first-line investigation for diagnosis because it is relatively quick, cheap, noninvasive, and does not expose patients to radiation. It is also used for long-term monitoring of disease progression in Takayasu<unk> . Not all vascular lesions are visible on ultrasound, and the accuracy of the scan depends, to some extent, on the person reading the scan, as the results are observed in real time. Types<unk>  may be primary or secondary to some other disease process. The primary types are: Comparison of major types of<unk> <unk>  Affected organs Histopathology Takayasu<unk>  Large vessels, including aorta and arch branches Histiocytes, giant cells Giant cell<unk> , also often called temporal<unk>  (although they differ slightly) Superficial temporal artery, other medium- and large-sized vessels, e.g. those supplying the head, eyes and optic nerves Lymphocytes, macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells Polyarteritis nodosa Medium-sized vessels, CNS, PNS damage, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, skeletal muscle, heart Neutrophils, fibrinoid necrosis An example of a secondary<unk>  is<unk>  caused by infection with the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Giant cell<unk>  Giant cell<unk>  contains two different types of<unk> es that are almost indistinguishable from one another. It includes two types, temporal<unk>  and Takayasu<unk> . Both types contain an occupancy of medium- and larger-sized arteries which are categorized based on the infiltration of the giant cells. Takayasu<unk>  This type of<unk>  is most common in females, with a median age of 25 years. Takayasu<unk>  is more common in women of Asian descent who are in their reproductive years. However, over the past decades, its incidence in Africa, Europe, and North America has been increasing. Takayasu<unk>  is an inflammatory disease that mainly affects the larger vessels such as the aorta and its surrounding branches. Research focused on Takayasu<unk>  in the western parts of the world remains limited. An estimation suggests that, each year, the number of cases per million people is 2.6. Temporal<unk>  Temporal<unk> , the second type of giant cell<unk> , is also a chronic, inflammatory disease involving mid- to large-sized arteries. Temporal<unk>  has a higher incidence in people of Scandinavian descent. However, the incidence rate differs based on population, region and races. Temporal<unk>  is not uncommon in North America. The incidence rate is around 0.017% for individuals over 50 years of age. Symptoms of temporal<unk>  are classified as specific and nonspecific. Nonspecific symptoms: * Headache * Low grade fever * Sweating * Anorexia (loss of appetite) * Weight loss * General malaise Specific symptoms: * Claudication of the jaw * Engorged, tender vessels Specific symptoms usually develop in the advanced stages of temporal<unk> . Polyarteritis nodosa of unknown mechanism can cause testicular pain. It is often associated with aneurysms and Hepatitis B.
Arteritis
Lymphangitis
Uveitis
Coronary thrombosis
Embolism
Carditis
Aortitis
Uveoparotitis