skip to main content

Negative TAB Does Not Exclude GCA — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardVasculitisNegative TAB Does Not Exclude GCASCE Rheumatology

A 72-year-old has weight loss, constitutional inflammation, arm claudication and asymmetric brachial pressures but no cranial symptoms. Temporal and axillary ultrasound is non-diagnostic. Which investigation is most useful for suspected extracranial large-vessel GCA?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Obtain FDG-PET/CT or large-vessel MRI according to availability and patient factors

Explanation lettering: D = shown as C · E = shown as D · C = shown as E

B is correct. EULAR supports FDG-PET or MRI as alternative imaging in suspected GCA and they are particularly suited to extracranial aortic-branch inflammation after a non-diagnostic ultrasound. A repeatedly samples the wrong vascular territory. C evaluates a mimic rather than vasculitis. D is invasive and not obligatory for diagnosis. E postpones detection until structural damage has occurred.

Reference: EULAR imaging recommendations for large-vessel vasculitis 2023: https://ard.bmj.com/content/83/6/741