Giant cell arteritis (GCA)—also known as temporal arteritis—is a systemic vasculitis that involves medium and large-caliber arteries such as the cranial arteries, great vessels, and aorta. Although the typical nonocular features of GCA are well known (e.g., new-onset headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication), vestibulocochlear presentations are rare and can mimic acute idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (AISHL).1 Although steroids are given for both AISHL and GCA, the lower dose and shorter duration of steroid treatment in AISHL can obscure and delay the diagnosis of GCA.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA)—also known as temporal arteritis—is a systemic vasculitis that involves medium and large-caliber arteries such as the cranial arteries, great vessels, and aorta. Although the typical nonocular features of GCA are well known (e.g., new-onset headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication), vestibulocochlear presentations are rare and can mimic acute idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (AISHL).1 Although steroids are given for both AISHL and GCA, the lower dose and shorter duration of steroid treatment in AISHL can obscure and delay the diagnosis of GCA.