European Journal of Rheumatology
Case-Based Review

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

1.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

2.

Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

3.

Department of Pathology, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lillington, NC, USA

Eur J Rheumatol 2021; 8: 105-108
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2021.20134
Read: 1132 Downloads: 797 Published: 01 April 2021

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 carotid system. Temporal artery biopsy specimens can show the presence of inflammatory multinucleated giant cells. Here, we report just the third case of Mönckeberg sclerosis with multinucleated giant cells affecting the temporal artery and mimicking GCA. This rare finding in the evaluation of a common vasculitis is important for rheumatologists to be aware of and emphasizes close collaboration between clinicians and pathologists.

Cite this article as: Johannemann A, Proia AD, Criscione-Schreiber L. Mönckeberg sclerosis with giant cells as a masquerade of giant cell arteritis. Eur J Rheumatol 2021; 8(2): 105-8.

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