A 70-year-old has a new headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness and an ESR of 90 mm/hour. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Giant cell arteritis
- Step 1: The picture of jaw claudication with a very high ESR fits Giant cell arteritis.
Answer
Giant cell arteritis.
Why not the others: 'Migraine': it gives episodic unilateral headache with nausea and visual aura, without jaw claudication. 'Trigeminal neuralgia': it gives brief electric-shock facial pain. 'Tension headache': it is band-like with a normal ESR.
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