title: An unusual presentation of giant cell arteritis.
abstract: A 77-year-old-man with giant cell arteritis who developed bitemporal scalp ulcerations is described. Since 1946 when Cooke et al. reported the first case of scalp necrosis there were approximately 55 cases published. Scalp ulceration is a rare complication of giant cell arteritis and occurs mainly in elderly persons, particularly women. About half of all patients were presented to dermatologists. Most of the patients (70%) had other serious complications of giant cell arteritis: blindness, gangrene of the tongue and nasal septum necrosis. Seventy percent of the cases were confirmed by a temporal artery biopsy. The necrosis were of varying extent and uni- or bilateral. Although, in most cases necrosis has been located bilaterally as in the presented case. Scalp healing was complete nearly in all patients by conservative treatment within a year. Scalp ulceration is a potentially reversible complication of giant cell arteritis which indicates extensive vessel involvement and adequate coricosteroid therapy is required and essential.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Center, Schaffhauserstr. 355, Zürich, Switzerland. Roger.Simon@usz.ch
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Amann-Vesti
authors.forename: G Schenk
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Romer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kägi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*