title: Carotid tenderness: an ominous sign of giant cell arteritis?
abstract: Giant cell (temporal) arteritis is a systemic vasculitis involving medium and large-sized vessels. Despite the high frequency of involvement of cranial arteries, pain on examination of the external carotid artery itself has been exceptionally reported. We describe 3 patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) and wincing pain on palpation over the external carotid. The presence of this sign may be a harbinger of the existence of severe vascular involvement in patients with GCA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Xeral-Calde, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Gay
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia-Porrua
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010173:Palpation
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin