[Scalp necrosis in temporal arteritis].
BACKGROUND
Temporal arteritis is a systemic granulomatous vasculitis affecting large and medium sized arteries. Scalp necrosis is a rare complication that can appear before, during and after treatment.


METHODS
A patient with temporal arteritis and scalp necrosis is presented and relevant literature reviewed.


RESULTS
Scalp necrosis is seen in a few patients with temporal arteritis. The skin manifestations are most often bilaterally distributed and localised to the frontal, parietal and temporal parts of the scalp. Scalp necrosis often signifies a severe and extensive vasculitis, and is therefore associated with a high incidence of other disease-related complications, among them visual disturbances and blindness.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of scalp necrosis as a complication of temporal arteritis could reduce unnecessary time-consuming assessments and lead to a more rapid diagnosis and start of treatment.
Gran
Jan Tore
JT
Revmatologisk avdeling, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo. jan.tore.gran@rikshospitalet.no
Irgens
Karen
K
D000368:Aged; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*