Scalp necrosis: a rare complication of temporal arteritis

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.

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Scalp necrosis in temporal arteritis

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01323.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 488-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

F. A. Campbell ◽

C. Clark ◽

S. Holmes

Keyword(s):

Temporal Arteritis ◽

Scalp Necrosis

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Scalp necrosis in temporal arteritis: abrupt termination of the superficial temporal artery as a possible precursor

JDDG Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft ◽

10.1111/ddg.12037 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 551-552

Author(s):

Benjamin W.C. Sim ◽

Tanya Karaconji ◽

Gaurav Bhardwaj ◽

Rahul Dubey ◽

John P. Harris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temporal Arteritis ◽

Superficial Temporal Artery ◽

Temporal Artery ◽

Scalp Necrosis

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Scalp Necrosis Revealing Severe Giant-Cell Arteritis

Case Reports in Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/8130404 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Safa Idoudi ◽

Marouene Ben Kahla ◽

Fares Mselmi ◽

Badreddine Sriha ◽

A. Guiga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giant Cell Arteritis ◽

Giant Cell ◽

Carotid Arteries ◽

Temporal Arteritis ◽

Temporal Artery ◽

The Elderly ◽

Rare Occurrence ◽

Irreversible Loss ◽

Scalp Necrosis ◽

Primary Vasculitis

Giant-cell arteritis (GCA), also referred to as temporal arteritis, is the most common primary vasculitis of the elderly involving the extracranial branches of the carotid arteries, in particular, the temporal artery. Patients usually present with temporal headaches, visual impairment, fever, and scalp tenderness. Scalp necrosis associated with GCA is a rare occurrence with approximately 100 cases reported in the literature to date. It is a therapeutic emergency requiring urgent management as it may lead to irreversible loss of vision. To increase awareness of this severe complication, we report a patient with a scalp necrosis revealing a GCA.

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