FDG PET/CT in large vessel vasculitis

Summary Large vessel vasculitides (LVV) such as giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis and aortitis/periaortitis are characterised by immune‐mediated inflammation of medium to large arteries. Clinical disease manifestations can be non‐specific and diagnostic imaging plays an important role in the diagnostic pathway. In recent years, FDG PET/CT has proven to be a powerful metabolic tool that can provide a wholed body, non‐invasive assessment of vascular inflammation. This review outlines the clinical features of large vessel vasculitis and the closely related entity of polymyalgia rheumatica, summarises the evidence for FDG PET/CT in the assessment of these conditions, and provides guidance for patient preparation, image acquisition and interpretation.