Scalp necrosis and visual loss in giant cell arteritis: the importance of recognising atypical cutaneous clues
Abstract
A 70-year-old woman had presented with electric shock-like left hemifacial pain, with bilateral forehead skin plaques, diagnosed as shingles. 2 weeks later, she suddenly lost vision in the left eye. She had left optic disc oedema and bilateral necrotic-looking scalp lesions. Temporal artery biopsy was consistent with active temporal arteritis. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) may rarely present with scalp necrosis due to vasculitis of the facial arteries; the resulting hemifacial pain and atypical scalp rash may be misinterpreted as varicella zoster infection, delaying urgent intervention for GCA.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Vasculitis and related conditions
Otitis Media and Relapsing Polychondritis
IgG4-Related and Inflammatory Diseases
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Practical Neurology
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 484–486
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN