Motokazu Sawabe

Giant-cell (temporal) arteritis following a bypass operation for cerebral infarction.

A 61‐year‐old man was referred to us with linear and indurated erythemas and severe tenderness on the scalp, neck, tongue, and scrotum which had gradually spread over the previous six months. He had a history of an intracranial bypass operation for cerebral infarction. Histologic and ultrastructural examinations revealed giant‐cell arteries in the skin as well as inflammatory cells infiltrating into nerves. Carotid angiograms indicated stenosis of cranial arteries.

Granulomatous Tissue Reaction and Calcification of Heterologous Elastin Implanted in Hairless Mouse Skin: Light and Electron Microscopic Studies Compared with Reaction of Heterologous Collagen

Heterologous elastin particles were injected into the deep dermis or below the panniculus carnosus of hairless mice. A granulomatous tissue reaction with concomitant giant cell formation occurred around the implanted elastin in the early stages and, subsequently, calcium deposition with disappearance of the histiocytes and giant cells occurred in the later stages. Ultrastructural study revealed that some elastin particles were engulfed by the giant cells; others underwent calcification but remained intact.