Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory condition that affects the temporal arteries in the temple regions and is less common but important to recognize. It more often causes bilateral pain but can be unilateral. Associated symptoms include jaw cramping (claudication), blurry vision, scalp sensitivity or soreness, and tender, hardened arteries in the temples when touched. It predominantly affects people over age 50. Untreated, it risks vision loss or blindness; prompt steroid treatment is critical. Patients over 50 with new temple pain should be screened with ESR and CRP blood tests. A biopsy of the temporal artery is often done to help confirm diagnosis.