Distribution patterns of arterial affection and the influence of glucocorticoids on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT in patients with giant cell arteritis.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) with the involvement of extracranial vessels is increasingly coming into focus. Isolated aortic involvement in the acute phase of GCA is probably more frequent than estimated because only a minority of patients show typical symptoms. F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) is a reliable imaging tool to diagnose patients with extracranial GCA.