Temporal artery biopsies - a retrospective review over a two-year period in an Australian major teaching hospital

To determine the predictive value of temporal artery biopsy in patients clinically suspected of having temporal arteritis. Notes of patients who underwent a temporal artery biopsy for suspected temporal arteritis in the period 2004-2006 at the Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia, were studied. The clinical profile and histopathological slides were reviewed. Twenty-four patients were identified. Male to female ratio was 2: 1 with a mean age of 72 years. Out of these, 17 patients [70%] showed typical histological findings confirming temporal arteritis. Temporal arteritis is a rheumatological emergency. The above results indicate that the biopsy yield following rheumatologist suspicion is high with minimal post-operative complications. The histopathological diagnosis is useful in considering continuing or stopping therapy

Synovial cysts and compression neuropathies: a case report

Synovial cysts may arise from any joint affected with an inflammatory arthropathy and can cause compression of adjacent structures. The commonest joint affected is the knee. Synovial cysts arising from other joints are uncommon and those arising from the elbow joint are a rarity. Here we describe a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who presented with right ulnar nerve palsy due to a large synovial cyst arising from the elbow joint and extended into the forearm. In addition to the description of the case a literature review of compression neuropathies secondary to synovial cysts has been performed