The Role of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in Large-Vessel Vasculitis: Appropriateness of Current Classification Criteria?

Table 2

Sensitivity and specificity of different imaging modalities for LVV with their pathognomonic/typical imaging findings. (data on US and MRI from [111]).

	Pathognomonic/typical findings	Sensitivity/specificity
(Color-doppler); ultrasonography	(i) Edema, halo around the; (temporal) artery; (ii) Stenosis, increased blood flow velocities; (iii) Occlusion, absent colour signal	Sens. 87%, Spec. 96%; (for late effects of arteritis temporalis)
MRI	(i) Wall thickening; (ii) Increased mural gadolinium; contrast enhancement	Sens. 81%, Spec. 97%; (for late effects of LVV)
^18F-FDG PET/CT	Increased ^18F-FDG uptake in walls of aorta and main cervical and thoracic branches	(i) Able to detect early inflammation without (late) effects like oedema, wall thickening, or arterial stenosis or aortic dilatation; (ii) How to calculate sensitivity and specificity in lack of a gold standard?