Importance of specimen length during temporal artery biopsy

• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.7595
• Publication Date: 2011-06-30T11:42:10Z
• Authors: E Ypsilantis; E D Courtney; N Chopra; A Karthikesalingam; M Eltayab; N Katsoulas; T Y Tang; R Y Ball
• Keywords: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Variations in surgical technique of temporal artery biopsy (TAB) performed for diagnosis giant cell arteritis (GCA) may contribute to high false-negative rates. This was a retrospective analysis large database that explored potential associations between specimen length and diagnostic sensitivity TAB.Histopathological reports medical records patients who underwent TAB six hospitals 2004 2009 were reviewed.A total 966 biopsies analysed. The median postfixation 1 (range 0·1-8·5) cm 207 (21·4 per cent) positive GCA. Significant variation prebiopsy erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), arterial results noted amongst hospitals. Multivariable revealed patient age, ESR value independent predictors Positive had significantly longer compared with negative biopsies: 1·2 0·3-8·5) versus 1·0 (0·2-8·0) respectively (P = 0·001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) identified at least 0·7 as the cut-off highest predictive (area under ROC curve 0·574). Biopsies or more higher than smaller specimens (24·8 12·9 cent respectively; odds ratio 2·17, P 0·001).Specimen prognostic factors result. A uniform referral practice standard approximately could help eliminate discrepancies TAB.