Introduction:
GCA usually affects people over 50 years of age. This systemic
vasculitis affects large and middle size vessels and the humoral and
cellular immune systems have been implicated in the pathogenesis
[1]. The diagnosis is stablished by temporal artery biopsy that
reveals an inflammatory infiltrate with multinucleated giant cells in 40
to 50% of the cases. The temporal ultrasonography with doppler of the
temporal arteries showing a segmental edematous halo has a high
sensitivity and specificity and the diagnosis can be made with this
technique [1]. There is evidence that some auto-immune diseases have
some relationship with certain types of cancer, mostly hematologic
cancers [2]. Some types of vasculitis are more prone to be related
with cancer, but this relationship is rare and paraneoplastic vasculitis
represent only 5% [3]. This association has been described mostly
with small vessel vasculitis or leukocytoclastic vasculitis [4]. Its
appearance may precede or overlap the cancer diagnosis, or herald
disease progression [3].