If there is no pain in the temporal artery, the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) may be delayed and blindness may occur. Therefore, FDG-PET/CT is important as a modality for diagnosis of GCA. When GCA is suspected and F-18 FDG-PET/CT is performed, it is worthwhile to pay attention to shoulder and hip joints as polymyalgia rheumatica commonly presents with GCA.

Giant cell arteritis may lead to catastrophic, large-vessel complications from chronic vascular wall inflammation without prompt diagnosis and treatment. We describe a rare case of acute aortic dissection without preceding aneurysm secondary to histologically confirmed giant cell arteritis (GCA) in an 85-year-old female with a four-year history of polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis d...

We report five cases of glucocorticoid-responsive mouth symptoms in polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis (GCA); three cases of tongue pain exacerbated by hot/spicy food, a case of scalp pain made worse by eating hot/spicy food and a case of sore tongue as a presenting feature of GCA. These cases emphasize the importance of asking about mouth symptoms and changes in taste when evaluating ...

In a prospective study of 74 patients and a retrospective study of 35 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis steroid related side effects occurred in at least one third of patients, and in two thirds if weight gain was included. Side effects were significantly related to an initial prednisolone dose of more than 30 mg and to the cumulative prednisolone dose. Patients taking a...