症例 challenge · Rheumatology / Ophthalmology / Neurology · teaching

Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis) — Pathway · case challenge

Given a case, work through the care pathway step by step; the tool checks each choice and scores you. Decisions and basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways.

← View the full flowchartBased on EULAR / ACR

Case #1Rheumatology / Ophthalmology / Neurology

📋 Case data

Suspected GCA?Suspected GCA (raised ESR/CRP or typical symptoms)

Data is taken from this pathway's reviewed node text. Work through the pathway step by step.

Step 1 / 1 · Suspected GCA?

Age >50 with temporal headache/jaw claudication ± visual symptoms — suspected GCA?

💡 Medium/large-vessel vasculitis in those >50 (often with polymyalgia rheumatica). Cranial type: new headache, scalp/temporal artery tenderness, jaw claudication (pain on chewing, high risk of blindness); ocular type: transient monocular vision loss/diplopia → can progress to permanent blindness (anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), an ophthalmic emergency. Markedly raised ESR/CRP, raised platelets. Diagnosis: temporal artery biopsy (gold standard, can remain positive 1–2 weeks after steroids) or temporal artery ultrasound 'halo sign'.

For teaching. Decisions and their basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways; for licensed clinicians/trainees, this does not replace clinical judgment or local protocols.