The headache of temporal arteritis.

Patients with temporal arteritis may be misdiagnosed because the headache does not affect the temples. The records of 24 patients with biopsy proven temporal arteritis were reviewed to determine the site and other qualities of headache. Past reports of the sites of headache in this disease were also reviewed. The temporal area was the sole site of headache in only six of 24 patients; the temple was included in pain that affected the frontal, vertex, and occipital areas in another seven patients. Two patients had generalized headaches. The headache did not involve the temple in seven patients and two patients did not experience headaches. Temporal arteritis should be considered in every elderly individual who begins to complain of headache, no matter what the site, quality, severity, or time pattern.