高安氏動脈炎好侵犯主動脈及其主要分支。區域分佈以亞洲為多。性別方面又以年輕女性為多。診斷方式主要根據臨床表現輔以動脈攝影。發病早期時血管各層及外圍組織因被侵犯而造成血管壁變厚。傳統動脈攝影於此方面的偵測能力比不上核磁共振影像。疾病進展至晚期時，傳統動脈攝影與核磁共振影像皆可顯示動脈管腔狹窄、阻塞、側支循環、動脈瘤、動脈或肺動脈不正常擴張等異常變化。由於其非侵襲性的特質及無幅射線暴露之優點，核磁共振影像及核磁共振血管攝影已被用來取代傳統動脈攝影。此外，核磁共振影像在診斷高安氏動脈炎早期病變的能力是很特殊的。但在臺灣，使用核磁共振影像及核磁共振血管攝影來診斷高安氏動脈炎的例子不多見。我們報導一例44歲女性罹患晚期高安氏動脈炎。診斷主要根據美國風濕學會診斷標準及核磁共振影像。

Takayasu arteritis is an inflammatory process of the aorta and its major branches. It often occurs in young Asian females. Clinical manifestation and conventional arteriography are the bases of diagnosis. In early phase, inflammation involves all layers of vessels and periaortic tissue to cause aortic wall thickening. Conventional arteriography may not show these mural changes in the great vessels. In late occlusive phase, both the conventional arteriography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may show luminal changes such as stenosis, occlusion, aneurysm, collateral branches and dilatation of aorta or pulmonary artery. MR imaging and MR angiography have been used to replace conventional arteriogram for diagnosis and follow-up after treatment due to their non-invasive nature and absence of radiation exposure. Furthermore, MR imaging can detect abnormality in vessel wall in early phase of the disease. In Taiwan, reports on the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis based on MR imaging and MR angiography are rare. We report a 44-year-old female as late occlusive phase of Takayasu arteritis according to American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria and magnetic resonance imaging.