Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Longitudinal orientation of temporal artery biopsy for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: A cross-sectional study
Main finding · TAB positivityResult — go to the resultOdds ratio 2.93 95% CI 1.07–8.04Authors' conclusion
This is the first study to suggest that the use of a longitudinal section for TAB results in a higher diagnostic yield than the transverse orientation.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) meeting the 1990 ACR classification criteria, from a multicentre prospective cohort
- Participants
- 69 vs 337
- Exposure
- Longitudinal vs transverse temporal artery biopsy (TAB) section orientation
- Longitudinaln = 69
- Transversen = 337reference
- Outcome
- TAB positivity rate
Methodological detailsmulticentre, prospective cohort, blinded independent pathologist review, adjusted for confounding factors, Two independent pathologists blind to the relevant clinical data reviewed the TAB specimens
- Multicentre
- Prospective cohort
- Blinded independent pathologist review
- Adjusted for confounding factors
- Two independent pathologists blind to the relevant clinical data reviewed the TAB specimens
Main finding
TAB positivity
Odds ratio
2.93
95% CI 1.07–8.04
Longitudinalvs Transverse
OR 2.93 (95% CI 1.07–8.04)
As reported in the abstract
- Positive TAB results with longitudinal section
- 15.0% more
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Histological features
- Giant cells, inflammatory cells, nerve inflammation and disruption of the internal elastic lamina all more frequent on longitudinal than transverse sections
Original publication
Longitudinal orientation of temporal artery biopsy for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: A cross-sectional study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 8 April 2026. doi:10.
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