title: Significance of isolated vasculitis of the vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the significance of an isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A diagnostic procedure was performed with 28 patients presenting clinical and biological inflammatory process and an isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Panarteritis nodosa was diagnosed in 5 cases: polymyalgia rheumatica was evidenced in 4 cases; temporal arteritis was strongly suspected in 2 cases; various types of underlying disease were found in 12 patients; a noncharacterized systemic disease was found in 5 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery is a meaningful lesion frequently indicating a systemic vasculitic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médécine Interne, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Disdier
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Pellissier
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Figarella-Branger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bolla
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weiller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000473:pathology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*