Scott M. Bugenhagen M.D., Ph.D., Demetrios A. Raptis M.D., Sanjeev Bhalla M.D.
Vasculitis is a broad category of conditions generally characterized by inflammation within the walls of vessels of any size. Vasculitis may be due to an inflammatory process (such as autoimmune disease) or may be infectious in origin. Infectious vascular conditions may be seen outside of the vessel wall as well, most notably with an infected intraluminal thrombus. The critical initial step in the initial work-up of suspected vascular disease is distinguishing noninfectious from infectious etiologies as clinical management diverges greatly between these entities. Delay in appropriate treatment of infectious conditions can be fatal.1 This is particularly true within the thorax where the integrity of vital vascular structures such as the aorta and pulmonary arteries is critical. In integrating clinical information with image interpretation, the radiologist plays a crucial role in making the distinction between infectious and inflammatory conditions and efficiently guiding the patient towards appropriate therapy.2,3
Read Full Article Here: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ro.2022.07.002