temporal artery ultrasound

[Maddie2018]

Need help to know if this is normal thank you

[SheffieldJane]

I needed my Rheumatologist to explain the results of my Ultrasound Scan that diagnosed my non-cranial Large Vessal Vasculitis/ GCA. Is that not possible for you?

[Maddie2018 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes just had done yesterday, I will call him Tuesday

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sorry - there is no-one here who would really be able to comment on that though I can tell you that what it says that the arteries they looked at are open and clear with no obstructions to blood flow. The flow in the right is slower than that in the left, The diameter of the arteries seems similar on both sides and there is no sign of the artery wall being thickened. There is no mention of the halo sign that is diagnostic of temporal arteritis - but since it isn't mentioned, I don't know if they looked for it.

It mentions comparison with an earlier ultrasound - did you have one previously that diagnosed GCA?

[Maddie2018 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes but I was on prednisone now I’m off and doing much better! Some headaches but not as bad. So this is similar to when I was on prednisone 😳my last dose was 4/28

[Maddie2018 in reply to Maddie2018]

I have not spoken my dr yet

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maddie2018]

Then they have done it to see if there is any sign of the GCA - presumably questioning if the headaches could be due to GCA. They don't appear to have identified any such signs which is good but I don't think that is 100% certainty.

[Maddie2018 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you! You are a gem to us all!🙏🙏🙏

[Maddie2018 in reply to Maddie2018]

I will speak to my doctor probably on Tuesday and I will inform the group just if others to have questions on their ultrasound. I have tried to Google and find what it means to have different blood flow pattern on each side and I cannot find it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maddie2018]

In the original - was GCA affecting both sides or just one? The different flow patterns are natural because the shape of the artery is different. If the GCA affected the right side more than the left, that could be the reason for different flows, Or there could be something upstream of the region they looked at which is changing the flow rate/pattern. Like in a river when a beaver built a dam upstream ...

[Maddie2018 in reply to PMRpro]

The headaches were the same on both sides. I have had MRA MRI ULTRASOUND ALL MY BLOOD WORK IS NORMAL SO THEY NEVER COULD RULE THAT IT WAS GCA. I HAVE WHAT YOU CALLED CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS BUT WHO KNOWS

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maddie2018]

I'd trust a clinical diagnosis ahead of one that insisted the blood work ruled it out - some people DON'T ever develop what is called the "acute phase response" that raises the markers. And sometimes they remain in "normal range" but are raised for the patient. Normal range is the range of figures that covers 95% of a very large population - not what is normal for one person. All very complicated and confusing.

But always better safe than sorry.

[Maddie2018 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes it’s very concerning👍