Calcification on Temporal Artery Biopsy: What to Make of It?

Temporal artery calcification is an uncommon finding of unclear significance with respect to ocular ischemia (1,2). It may be reported as Mönckeberg's sclerosis, an age-related form of dystrophic calcification characterized by deposits in the tunica media, or as advanced atherosclerosis, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease. There are case reports of vision loss attributed to calciphylaxis on temporal artery biopsy (TAB), and is a rare phenomenon in end stage renal disease (ESRD) characterized by precipitous arteriole calcium deposition typically presenting as skin necrosis (3). Our goals are to: 1) examine incidence of calcification in our cohort of TABs, 2) describe the characteristics of the calcifications and clinical presentation of these cases and 3) review the literature.