Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
International recommendations for the use of imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of polymyalgia rheumatica
Methodological detailsinternational, multidisciplinary task force, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology standard operating procedures, systematic literature review, consensus, voting
- International, multidisciplinary task force
- European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology standard operating procedures
- Systematic literature review
- Consensus
- Voting
Recommendations
As issued by the authors
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) remains primarily a clinical diagnosis.
Imaging is neither required to confirm PMR in patients with a high clinical probability of the disease nor to exclude PMR in case of low clinical probability.
Imaging is most useful in patients with intermediate pretest probability (ie, atypical presentations or suspected alternative/overlapping conditions).
No single imaging modality demonstrated sufficient accuracy to be recommended as a first-line test; therefore, imaging should be individualised according to clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, access, and local expertise.
Vascular imaging should be performed when overlap with giant cell arteritis is suspected, whereas systematic screening for subclinical vasculitis is not supported by current evidence.
Utilising imaging for disease monitoring or outcome prediction is currently not recommended.
Original publication
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