Prognostic Value of Cranial Arteries Involvement on 18F-FDG PET/CT at Giant Cell Arteritis Diagnosis in a Multicenter Cohort

Key Points

• This research aims to determine the prognostic relevance of cranial artery involvement in diagnosing giant cell arteritis using 18F-FDG PET/CT.
• Evaluated 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in a multicenter cohort of patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis.
• Analyzed the uptake in cephalic branches of the external carotid artery.
• Assessed the correlation between arterial uptake and relapse rates.
• Increased uptake in cephalic branches was identified as an independent prognostic factor for relapse.
• Patients with higher uptake of the affected arteries were more likely to experience relapses.