BACKGROUND: Aortitis is a subtype of the more general term "vasculitis", an 
inflammatory condition of infectious or noninfectious origin involving the 
vessel wall. The term "vasculitis" refers to a broad spectrum of diseases with 
different aetiologies, pathophysiologies, clinical presentations and prognoses. 
The clinical manifestations are nonspecific, as are the laboratory findings such 
as pain, fever, weight loss, vascular insufficiency and elevated levels of acute 
phase reactants, as well as other systemic manifestations, and sometimes may 
mimic other entities. Thus, if not suspected as part of the initial differential 
diagnosis, aortitis can be overlooked during the workup of patients with 
constitutional symptoms and systemic disorders.
METHODS: Imaging is rarely used for the primary diagnosis, but imaging findings, 
although nonspecific, can help in the assessment of these patients and is often 
required for making the final diagnosis. Imaging can be critical in the 
initiation of appropriate management and therapy.
RESULTS: Noninvasive cross-sectional imaging modalities such as 
contrast-enhanced CT, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, nuclear medicine and in 
particular positron emission tomography (PET) are the leading modalities in 
modern diagnostic imaging of aortitis for both the initial diagnosis and 
follow-up.
CONCLUSION: This review focusses on the most common manifestations of aortitis 
with which radiologists should be familiar. TEACHING POINTS : • Aortitis is an 
inflammatory condition of infectious/noninfectious origin involving the vessel 
wall. • Imaging findings can help in the assessment of aortitis and are often 
crucial for the final diagnosis. • Contrast-enhanced CT, MRI and PET-CT are used 
for both the initial diagnosis and follow-up of aortitis.