[Tongue necrosis under corticosteroids].
BACKGROUND
The tongue is a common location for Horton necrotic injuries. But some herpetic lesions can show similar symptoms to the disease and complicate the diagnosis.


METHODS
A 67-year-old woman, treated by corticosteroids for Horton disease, presented a central, deep, and very painful ulceration of the tongue. The spreading of necrosis despite treatment was an indication for biopsy, giving the diagnosis of herpetic infection. Valacyclovir was efficient within 15 days.


CONCLUSIONS
This necrotic injury looks like herpetic stomatitis presented by severely immunodeficient AIDS patients. No case under corticosteroids had been described so far. The tongue-limited location is exceptional.
Ory
L
L
Service de chirurgie maxillofaciale et stomatologie, CHU Hôtel-Dieu, 44000 Nantes, France. ory.laurent@wanadoo.fr
D'Hauthuille
C
C
Boutoille
D
D
Vincent-Laurent
C
C
Mercier
J
J
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013283:Stomatitis, Herpetic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D011241:Prednisone; D000212:Acyclovir