Temporal arteritis Health Dictionary

An uncommon disease of older people in which the walls of the arteries in the scalp over the temples become inflamed. Other arteries in the body may also be affected. The cause is unknown, but the condition is often associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. Symptoms may include severe headache on 1 or both sides, scalp tenderness, a low fever, and poor appetite. In about half of the cases, the arteries supplying the eyes are affected, which may cause sudden blindness if left untreated.

Diagnosis of temporal arteritis is made by blood tests (including ESR) and, in some cases, by a biopsy of the temporal artery. Treatment involves the use of a corticosteroid drug. If this is not successful, immunosuppressants may be given. The disease usually clears up within 2 years.

temporal lobe epilepsy A form of epilepsy in which abnormal electrical discharges occur in the temporal lobe (most of the lower side of each half of the cerebrum) in the brain. The usual cause is damage to the temporal lobe, which may be due to a birth injury, head injury, brain tumour, brain abscess, or stroke. Attacks of this form of epilepsy cause dreamlike states, unpleasant hallucinations of smell or taste, the perception of an illusory scene, or déja vu. There may also be grimacing, rotation of the head and eyes, and sucking and chewing movements. The affected person may have no memory of activities during an attack, which can last for minutes or hours. Sometimes, the seizure develops into a grand mal seizure. Diagnosis and drug treatment is the same as for other forms of epilepsy.

In?ammation of the TEMPORAL ARTERY. Also known as giant cell arteritis, it often affects other arteries too, mainly in the head. It predominantly affects the elderly. The artery becomes tender with reddening of the overlying skin; headache and blindness may also occur. The diagnosis is con?rmed by temporal artery BIOPSY, and treatment is with steroids (see STEROID).

see arteritis.