All tests
Procedures & other tests
Temporal Artery Biopsy
A small sample of the artery at the side of the head.
Video lesson
Why it’s ordered
To confirm giant cell arteritis.
Understanding results
Inflammation with giant cells confirms GCA. A negative biopsy doesn’t fully rule it out because the inflammation can be patchy.
Good to know
Steroids are started first and don’t affect the result if the biopsy is done within about 2 weeks.
At a glance
Type
Procedures & other tests
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
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