Bilateral juvenile temporal arteritis: a case-based review.

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Rheumatology
• Pediatric Vasculitis

Background:

• Juvenile Temporal Arteritis (JTA) is a rare, non-granulomatous vasculitis affecting superficial temporal arteries in individuals under 45.
• Often misdiagnosed due to its benign presentation and lack of systemic symptoms.

Observation:

• A case report details a 40-year-old woman with initial painless temporal nodules, followed by new nodules and spontaneous regression.
• A systematic literature review analyzed 43 JTA case reports, focusing on 17 with bilateral involvement.

Findings:

• JTA typically manifests as temporal nodules (painless or painful), with histopathology being crucial for diagnosis.
• Bilateral JTA cases were extensively reviewed, providing insights into clinical and histopathological features.
• The condition exhibits variable clinical courses and responses to intervention, including spontaneous resolution.

Implications:

• Increased clinical awareness of JTA is needed to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment.
• This comprehensive review contributes valuable data on rare bilateral JTA cases.
• Understanding JTA's variability aids clinicians in diagnosis and management, potentially preventing unnecessary interventions.