Reduction in jaw opening: a neglected symptom of giant cell arteritis.

Reduction in jaw opening is a neglected symptom of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in clinical practice and in the scientific literature. We describe the case of a 71-year-old woman with GCA who was misdiagnosed as occipital neuritis and craniomandibular dysfunction because of headaches in the occipital region and reduction in jaw opening. The reported case reminds us not to overlook reduction in jaw opening as a symptom to reveal GCA in elderly patients.