- To discuss the importance of imaging in the management of systemic vasculitis.

- To describe the radiologic manifestations of systemic vasculitis in the different organs/systems

1. Definition and classification of vasculitis

2. Imaging methods in the study of vasculitides

Ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound

Computed tomography

Magnetic resonance

Digital substraction angiography

Positron emission tomography

3. Imaging of system/organ manifestations

Vascular involvement

Cardiac involvement

Abdominal involvement

Thoracic manifestations

Neurologic manifestations

Musculoskeletal involvement

4. Future perspectives

5. Conclusions

The major teaching points of this exhibit are:

-  Imaging techniques are useful for the management and characterization of vasculitis and their systemic manifestations

- Current angiographic techniques do not always allow the direct study of vascular alterations of small vessel vasculitides, although CT and MR are able to evaluate their systemic manifestations

-  MR and PET are able to detect and monitor the post-treatment changes of parietal inflammatory alterations