Cervical radiculopathy as a manifestation of giant cell arteritis.

Radicular involvement in Horton's disease is rare. In all but one of the eight documented cases, C5 nerve roots were affected. We report a new case with C5 involvement. Cervical radiculopathy could be due to arteritis of radicular vessels. Preferential involvement of C5 nerve roots may depend on the vascularization of cervical roots but could be due to the inability to diagnose upper cervical involvement (C1-C3). Outcome is favourable in all cases with corticosteroids.