Also called temporal arteritis, giant cell arteritis is a condition in which certain arteries become inflamed. Usually the inflamed arteries are those in the head and scalp, such as the temporal arteries, but it may also involve other arteries in the head and neck and the aorta (the main artery). The cause of giant cell arteritis is unknown, but it may occur with polymyalgia rheumatica , an inflammatory condition of the muscles, and sometimes runs in families.
Giant cell arteritis typically produces severe headaches, scalp tenderness, pain when chewing, and sometimes loss of an area of vision.
The condition is treated with medication to reduce inflammation