Case Report

Temporal Artery Bruits in a Patient with Giant Cell Arteritis

SCOTT T. PERSELLIN, MARC D. COHEN, WILLIAM W. GINSBURG, KENNETH T. CALAMIA, JAMES C. WALDORF, and ANDRAS KHOOR

ABSTRACT.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by granulomatous inflammation of medium and large arteries. A 69-year-old man presented with right jaw claudication, intermittent scalp tenderness without headache, and visibly swollen temporal arteries. Results of a right temporal artery biopsy were positive for GCA. Auscultation revealed audible bruits of the temporal arteries. We believe this is the first reported example of bruits of the temporal arteries as a manifestation of GCA. The condition resolved with corticosteroid therapy. (J Rheumatol 2003;30:191-2)

Key Indexing Terms:

AUSCULTATION
POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA
TEMPORAL ARTERITIS

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From the Division of Rheumatology, the Section of Plastic Surgery, and the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

S.T. Persellin, MD, Consultant; M.D. Cohen, MD, Consultant; W.W. Ginsburg, MD, Consultant; K.T. Calamia, MD, Consultant, Division of Rheumatology; J.C. Waldorf, MD, Consultant, Section of Plastic Surgery; A. Khoor, MD, Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.

Address reprint requests to Dr. S.T. Persellin, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

Submitted April 9, 2002; revision accepted June 25, 2002.

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