Temporal arteriography. Analysis of 21 cases and a review of the literature.

To define the role of temporal arteriography in the diagnosis of giant-cell arteritis, the results of temporal arteriography in 21 patients who had temporal artery biopsies were reviewed. Abnormal angiography was found in all patients with biopsy-proven giant-cell arteritis, in some patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and normal biopsy, and in some patients with neither polymyalgia rheumatica nor giant-cell arteritis. No pattern of angiographic abnormality typical for giant-cell arteritis could be found. Results suggest temporal arteriography is a sensitive but nonspecific procedure in the diagnosis of giant-cell arteritis and must be coupled with biopsy of angiographic abnormalities for confirmation of diagnosis.