Isolated granulomatous giant cell vasculitis of the pulmonary elastic arteries

A 66-year-old man who developed an occluded left main pulmonary artery, clinically demonstrated by perfusion scan and pulmonary angiography, is described. Explorative thoracotomy revealed a granulomatous giant cell arteritis after pathologic examination of the surgically removed left lung. Detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation excluded a systemic disease.