CAROTID TENDERNESS - AN OMINOUS SIGN OF GIANT-CELL ARTERITIS

Giant cell (temporal) arteritis is a systemic vasculitis involving med ium and large-sized vessels. Despite the high frequency of involvement of cranial arteries, pain on examination of the external carotid arte ry itself has been exceptionally reported. We describe 3 patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) and wincing pain on palpatio n over the external carotid. The presence of this sign may be a harbin ger of the existence of severe vascular involvement in patients with G CA.