Occult giant cell arteritis: a diagnosis of suspicion

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal or cranial arteritis is an inflammatory disease of arterial vessels which often involves the short posterior ciliary vessels resulting in an ischemic optic neuropathy. If not recognized and treated appropriately devastating preventable blindness may result.

This review will present a case of "occult" giant cell with a discussion of the histopathology, symptomatology, diagnosis and management of this intriguing disease entity.

Giant cell arteritis may masquerade with subtle easily overlooked symptoms and camouflaged signs. By appropriate physical and laboratory examination loss of vision may be prevented.