[Highly located transverse lesion of the cord with quadriplegia caused by giant cell arteritis (author's transl)].

This is a report of a 64 years old patient who experienced a transverse lesion of the spinal cord with quadriplegia caused by giant cell arteritis. It is stressed that giant cell arteritis not only affects the temporal arteries but on principle any other artery of the body. The giant cell arteritis generally is accompanied with similar humoral findigns as a malignant neoplasm. Therefor in a few cases with high spinal cord lesion suspected to be caused by a malignant tumour the giant cell arteritis may be the real cause, if a spinal mass is excluded. In order to prevent irreversible paralytic defects a cortisone therapy has to be started with as early as possible. It must be carried on for a long period to prevent a restarting of the inflammatory process.