Bilateral scalp necrosis in temporal arteritis. A rare complication of Horton's disease.
In an elderly man bilateral temporal scalp necrosis complicating temporal (systemic giant cell) arteritis developed. The patient also demonstrated other features characteristic of this entity: (1) exquisite scalp tenderness and headache, (2) onset late in life, (3) visual disturbances, (4) general debility, (5) diagnostic temporal artery biopsy, and (6) gradual healing with glucocorticosteroid therapy. A computer assisted review revealed 13 similar cases of scalp necrosis associated with temporal arteritis published in the English literature.
D000368:Aged; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome