The superficial temporal artery is the terminal branch of the external carotid artery and the primary supply to the temporal scalp and forehead, anastomosing with the supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries (from the ophthalmic artery) at the forehead. It is the primary feeding vessel for temporal pedicled flaps in reconstructive surgery and is the artery biopsied in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis).
| Origin | Terminal branch of the external carotid artery, with the maxillary artery, at the level of the neck of the mandible |
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Temporal artery biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing giant cell arteritis — a 2 to 3 cm segment of the palpable temporal artery at the preauricular temple is excised and examined for transmural giant cell inflammation. A negative biopsy does not exclude the diagnosis as skip lesions occur, and treatment with high-dose corticosteroids should not be delayed while awaiting biopsy results given the risk of sudden vision loss from ophthalmic artery involvement.
Giant cell arteritis of the superficial temporal and ophthalmic arteries producing temporal headache, scalp tenderness, and blindness risk managed with immediate high-dose corticosteroids and temporal artery biopsy confirmation.
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