Positron emission tomography in the diagnosis and management of giant cell arteritis.

We describe a 58-year-old woman who presented with new onset of temporal headaches and a nondiagnostic temporal artery biopsy in whom positron emission tomography led to the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. After treatment with corticosteroids the patient's symptoms resolved. A repeat (18)FDG PET-CT scan illustrated virtually complete resolution of the abnormal (18)FDG uptake in the arterial wall.