We were interested to read the paper by Burtonet al reporting the association between giant cell arteritis and cervical radiculopathy. The evidence for giant cell arteritis seems incontrovertible, but the possibility remains that this patient might have had motor neuron disease coexisting with giant cell arteritis. Details of the clinical examination, investigations, and pathology point to this possibility. Furthermore, the neuropathological report does not include immunocytochemical studies that would be necessary to exclude the diagnosis of motor neuron disease.

The clinical picture is one of a lower motor neuron syndrome affecting all four limbs …

Dr J Winer