Osler-Weber-Rendu Disease

Preliminary Diagnosis: Osler-Weber-Rendu Disease

I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis

• Plain radiography.

II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease.

Advantages

• Quick and relatively inexpensive imaging modality

• Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation

Disadvantages

• Poorly sensitive and specific in detailing and characterizing any potential hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectatic lesions

• Does not offer exquisite visualization and evaluation of the surrounding soft tissues and osseous structures

• Unable to guide treatment and therapy

III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?

• No specific contraindications to plain radiography exist. Some institutions may require consent for pregnant women.

IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?

• CT of the area of interest

• Catheter angiography

V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosis Osler-Weber-Rendu disease.

CT of the area of interest

Advantages

• Offers exquisite visualization of the surrounding soft tissues, vascular structures, and osseous structures

• May guide treatment

• Relatively quick imaging modality

• Highly sensitive and specific in detecting, diagnosing, and characterizing potential lesions

Disadvantages

• Exposes patients to ionizing radiation.

Catheter angiography

Advantages

• Gold standard in diagnosing and treating patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu disease

• Highly sensitive and specific in detecting and characterizing telangiectatic lesions

Disadvantages

• Invasive procedure and exposes patients to the risks of an invasive procedure

• May expose patients to large amounts of ionizing radiation

VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?

CT of the area of interest

• May be contraindicated in pregnant patients

Catheter angiography

• May be contraindicated in pregnant patients and those in a hypocoagulable state