title: Forehead necrosis, one of the many facades of giant cell arteritis.
abstract: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is known to be a potentially blinding condition. Swift diagnosis can aid in preventing permanent visual loss and, more importantly, protect the contralateral eye. Classical symptoms include jaw claudication, myalgia and new-onset headache. We present two cases of GCA with scalp necrosis, a rare feature associated with this condition. In the first case, forehead necrosis preceded the visual symptoms by 2 days. In the second case it was noted a few weeks after the patient presented with profound unilateral loss of vision. Scalp necrosis is an important sign that should prompt those approached by these patients to consider GCA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, UK.
authors.forename: Vanessa Elizabeth
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Tafadzwa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Young-Zvandasara
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Bharati
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vusirikala
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000473:pathology*; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone