OBJECTIVE: To develop a clinical guide to the evaluation of temporal arteritis. DESIGN: A Medline English-language search of the literature from 1966 to 1998, including more than 300 articles about temporal arteritis, was performed to develop a guide to the evaluation of temporal arteritis. RESULTS: A user-friendly guide to the evaluation of temporal arteritis was developed based on the following criteria: (1) clinical suspicion, (2) laboratory testing, and (3) temporal artery biopsy. CONCLUSION: A clinical guide to the evaluation of temporal arteritis may assist clinicians in the care of patients with this condition.