Temporal Artery Biopsy

Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) is an inflammatory vasculopathy that affects medium and large-sized arteries, which are usually branches of the carotid artery. While the superficial temporal branch is highly susceptible, other arteries may be affected as well. Temporal arteritis is a granulomatous panarteritis with mononuclear cell infiltrates and giant cell formation within the vessel wall. This histologic characteristic confirms the diagnosis of temporal arteritis in biopsy specimens of the temporal artery.