Carotid tenderness: an ominous sign of giant cell arteritis

Giant cell (temporal) arteritis is a systemic vasculitis involving medium and large-sized vessels. Despite the high frequency of involvement of cranial arteries, pain on examination of the external carotid artery itself has been exceptionally reported. We describe 3 patients with biopsy-proven giant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 1998, Vol.27 (2), p.154-156
Main Author: García-Porrua, Miguel González-Gay, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Carotid Artery Diseases - blood
Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnosis
Carotid Artery Diseases - etiology
Carotid Artery, External - pathology
Female
Giant Cell Arteritis - blood
Giant Cell Arteritis - complications
Giant Cell Arteritis - diagnosis
Humans
Medical sciences
Pain - diagnosis
Pain - etiology
Palpation
Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
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Summary:Giant cell (temporal) arteritis is a systemic vasculitis involving medium and large-sized vessels. Despite the high frequency of involvement of cranial arteries, pain on examination of the external carotid artery itself has been exceptionally reported. We describe 3 patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) and wincing pain on palpation over the external carotid. The presence of this sign may be a harbinger of the existence of severe vascular involvement in patients with GCA. Miguel A. González-Gay Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Xeral-Calde, c/Dr. Ochoa s/n, SP-27004 Lugo, Spain
ISSN:0300-9742
1502-7732
DOI:10.1080/030097498441065