Mönckeberg sclerosis with giant cells as a masquerade of giant cell arteritis

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common type of vasculitis in adults, which is classified as a large/medium vessel vasculitis. It has a predilection for the ophthalmic circulation and extracranial carotidsystem. Temporal artery biopsy specimens can show the presence of inflammatory multinucleatedgiant cells. Here, we report just the third case of Mönckeberg sclerosis with multinucleated giant cellsaffecting the temporal artery and mimicking GCA. This rare finding in the evaluation of a commonvasculitis is important for rheumatologists to be aware of and emphasizes close collaboration betweenclinicians and pathologists