Two Cases of Temporal Arteritis with “Macaroni Signs” in the Common Carotid Artery Determined by Ultrasonography

Abstract

Carotid ultrasonography revealed circumferential wall thickening (so-called macaroni sign) of the common carotid artery (CCA) in two patients with temporal arteritis (TA). Few reports describe details of the CCA of TA determined using carotid ultrasonography. A combination of Takayasu’s arteritis in our patients was difficult to justify according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology. Thus we considered that the macaroni signs in these patients were not due to a type of polyangiitis overlap syndrome but were rather associated with TA. Because the TA might cause macaroni signs on the CCA, the influence of inflammation on the CCA should be examined.