Irregular focal thickening of walls of medium and large muscular arteries is characteristic of which condition?

Irregular focal thickening of walls of medium and large muscular arteries is characteristic of which condition?

• A. Vasculitis
• B. Atherosclerosis
• C. Fibromuscular dysplasia
• D. Arteriovenous malformation

Answer: (C)

Fibromuscular dysplasia. This condition produces noninflammatory, nonatherosclerotic irregular thickening of the media in medium to large arteries, leading to alternating stenosis and dilation that gives a beaded, irregular wall appearance on imaging. It most classically affects renal and carotid arteries and tends to occur in younger to middle-aged women, often presenting with hypertension or neurovascular symptoms. This pattern distinguishes it from vasculitis (inflammation-driven wall changes), atherosclerosis (lipid-rich plaque with aging and risk factors), and arteriovenous malformation (abnormal vessel connections rather than wall thickening).

Fibromuscular dysplasia. This condition produces noninflammatory, nonatherosclerotic irregular thickening of the media in medium to large arteries, leading to alternating stenosis and dilation that gives a beaded, irregular wall appearance on imaging. It most classically affects renal and carotid arteries and tends to occur in younger to middle-aged women, often presenting with hypertension or neurovascular symptoms. This pattern distinguishes it from vasculitis (inflammation-driven wall changes), atherosclerosis (lipid-rich plaque with aging and risk factors), and arteriovenous malformation (abnormal vessel connections rather than wall thickening).