Primary temporal region squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed by a superficial temporal artery biopsy

Abstract Background Superficial temporal artery biopsy is a frequent procedure performed in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. Methods and results An otherwise healthy 69-year-old man presented with 2months complaint of right temporal region pain. Giant cell arteritis was suspected and a temporal artery biopsy was performed. The histopathology revealed perineural invasion of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A thorough investigation revealed no other primary site for the SCC and the patient was treated with surgical excision. Conclusion Malignancy is rarely found in superficial temporal artery biopsies and lymphoma is the most common malignancy reported. In this rare case, the patient had right temporal pain explained by perineural invasion of a primary SCC in the right temporal region, which was treated with surgical excision guided by perioperative fresh frozen histology.