Rare case of Takayasu arteritis with concurrent aneurysmal dilation and stenosis

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis is a rare, chronic large vessel vasculitis that primarily affects women aged 10 to 40 years of Asian descent. The inflammatory processes of the disease can result in stenosis and/or occlusion of the aorta and its branches, causing a wide range of symptoms. Rarely, damage of the elastic lamina or muscular media can cause aneurysmal dilation of the affected vessel. Diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation, laboratory proof of inflammation, and imaging finding of wall thickening in the acute phase and later arterial stenosis or occlusion. Management includes disease control with immunosuppression and some patients might require revascularization. Here, we present a rare case of Takayasu arteritis with both right common carotid artery aneurysmal dilation and stenosis at a conforming site. Although aneurysmal dilation has been sparsely reported in the Takayasu arteritis literature, our case may represent the distinct finding of concomitant dilation and stenosis in this disease.