Wolfgang A Schmidt, Michael Czihal, Michael Gernert, Wolfgang Hartung, Bernhard Hellmich, Sarah Ohrndorf, Gabriela Riemekasten, Valentin S Schäfer, Johannes Strunk, Nils Venhoff
An expert committee recommends defining fast-track clinics (FTC) for the acute diagnostics of giant cell arteritis (GCA) as follows: low-threshold, easy and prompt reachability at least on weekdays, scheduling appointments ideally within 24 h, examination by a specialist with GCA expertise, ≥ 2 experts per FTC, ≥ 50 patients with suspected GCA per year, sonologists with ≥ 300 (≥ 50) temporal and axillary artery examinations, adherence to standard operating procedures, availability of an ≥ 18 (≥ 15) MHz and a lower frequency linear ultrasound probe and collaboration with partners for fast performance of neurological and ophthalmological examinations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT, possibly CT) and for temporal artery biopsy...
May 8, 2024: Zeitschrift Für Rheumatologie