Figure 4

Images of the thoracic aorta in a patient with Takayasu arteritis are shown . A. CE-MRA in the sagittal plane demonstrates diffuse, mild dilatation of the descending aorta that measured 33 mm at the level indicated by arrows vs. 25 mm more proximally (arrowheads). Vessel wall thickening can be appreciated using techniques such as non-contrast inversion recovery dark blood imaging (B, showing thickening of 4–5 mm of the thoracic aorta wall, arrows). Additional post-contrast T1-weighted imaging such as the volumetric interpolated breathhold technique (C, same location as B) further confirm vessel wall thickening in this patient.