Objective: To assess the significance of an isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsy.
Methods: A diagnostic procedure was performed with 28 patients presenting clinical and biological inflammatory process and an isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsies.
Results: Panarteritis nodosa was diagnosed in 5 cases: polymyalgia rheumatica was evidenced in 4 cases; temporal arteritis was strongly suspected in 2 cases; various types of underlying disease were found in 12 patients; a noncharacterized systemic disease was found in 5 cases.
Conclusion: Isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery is a meaningful lesion frequently indicating a systemic vasculitic disorder.