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temporal artery biopsy

Indications: - evaluation of suspected temporal arteritis Procedure: - biopsy segment should be > 5 cm - ultrasound-guided biopsy of contralateral temporal artery 2-5 days after initiation of steroid therapy if initial biopsy is negative [2,3] - results of biopsy not affected by 2-5 days of prednisone therapy [1] - biopsy specimens remain interpretable for at least 2 weeks after initiation of prednisone [2] - 6 weeks of prednisone therapy may not affect results of biopsy [4] - prior to biopsy, check colateral circulation with 1-2 min occlusion

General

arterial biopsy

References

  1. Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 28th ed, Ewald & McKenzie (eds), Little, Brown & Co, Boston, 1995, pg 527
  2. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018. - Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19 Board Basics. An Enhancement to MKSAP19. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2022
  3. Arida A, Kyprianou M, Kanakis M, Sfikakis PP. The diagnostic value of ultrasonography-derived edema of the temporal artery wall in giant cell arteritis: a second meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Mar 8;11:44 PMID: 20210989
  4. Majerovich K et al. Duration of steroid therapy and temporal artery biopsy positivity in giant cell arteritis: A retrospective cohort study. J Rheumatol 2023 Jul; 50:965. PMID: 36642440 https://www.jrheum.org/content/50/7/965