Evaluating the Usefulness and Timing of the Temporal Artery Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis

✍ Scribed by Stephen V. Tornabene; Raymond Hilsinger; Raul M. Cruz

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 126 KB
• Volume: 121
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0023-852X
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.22215

✦ Synopsis

Educational Objective: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants should be able to identify the most common presenting signs and symptoms associated with patients undergoing a temporal artery biopsy.

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is systemic, inflammatory, vascular syndrome that predominantly affects the temporal arteries. The temporal artery biopsy is a common procedure used to aid in the diagnosis of this condition. The goal of this study was to identify analytical and clinical variables that may improve the effectiveness of the temporal artery biopsy.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: This retrospective study examined all temporal artery biopsies done in our institution in the past five years. Variables including demographic information, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and biopsy data including the length and side of the biopsy were recorded. Clinical variables such as the presenting symptoms, timing of symptoms, and treatment with corticosteroids were collected.