Which of the following findings is typical for a temporal artery biopsy in Giant Cell Arteritis?

A temporal artery biopsy is a critical diagnostic tool for confirming Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), a condition characterized by systemic inflammation of the blood vessels, particularly affecting the temporal arteries.

When the correct answer indicates positive results, it refers to the typical histological findings seen in the biopsy of an affected vessel. Specifically, in patients with Giant Cell Arteritis, the biopsy often reveals a significant presence of inflammatory cells, particularly giant cells, inflammatory infiltrate, and intimal hyperplasia. These findings reflect the underlying pathophysiology of the disease, where the arteries are infiltrated by lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells, leading to the symptoms associated with GCA, such as headache, jaw claudication, and visual disturbances.

In contrast, negative results from a temporal artery biopsy would suggest that there are no significant histopathological changes indicative of GCA, which could lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. Other options, such as inflammatory markers, while relevant in the broader context of diagnosing inflammatory conditions and can be elevated in GCA, they do not specifically confirm the diagnosis as definitively as a positive biopsy does. Calcifications are also not typical findings in GCA and would point towards different vascular concerns. Therefore, positive