Case Report

Tongue Necrosis Secondary to Giant Cell Arteritis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Table 1

Literature review of giant cell arteritis with tongue necrosis.

AuthorRef.Age/SexESRAssociated symptomsTreatment

Mumoli (2015)[16]77/FNoPain in the scapular cingulum, pain and swelling in both the wrists, transient reduction in visual acuity and headacheSteroids
Zaragoza (2015)[8]68/F55Moderate headache and swelling of the neckHigh dose corticosteroids at 1 mg/kg
Lobato-Berezo (2014)[17]74/FNoFatigue, anorexia, jaw pain and headache, with ptosis and blurred vision in her left eyePulse with methylprednisolone and oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day
Kumar (2013)[18]74/M132High-grade fever, bilateral temporoparietal headache, jaw claudication and diminished vision in both eyesOral prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day
Grant (2013)[5]79/F68Sudden complete visual loss in the left eye and generalized ongoing headacheOral prednisolone 60 mg/day and pulse with 500 mg methylprednisolone for three days
Kumarasinghe (2012)[19]74/F103Vague history of mild headaches and jaw pain on chewingOral prednisolone 40 mg/day
Husein-ElAhmed (2012)[20]76/F87Generalised weaknessOral prednisone
Zadik (2011)[1]78/F69Pain of the right head, neck, face, and shoulder, fatigue, visual blurring and weight lossPrednisone 60 mg/day
Jennings (2011)[21]79/F75Fatigue, bilateral occipital neck pain and jaw claudicationSteroid treatment
Olivera (2010)[4]74/F83Headache, anorexia, weakness and jaw claudicationOral methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg
Brodmann (2009) Case  1[7]81/M52Chronic fatigueGlucocorticoid therapy
Brodmann (2009) Case  2[7]79/F70Sudden visual loss at the right eye, temporal headache and jaw claudicationHigh-dose steroid therapy
Zimmermann (2008)[22]81/F69Bitemporal headache, jaw claudication and mild limb-girdle symptomsHigh-dose intravenous hydrocortisone
Schurr (2008)[10]66/F120Slow speech and a worsening dysphagiaIntravenous prednisone 500 mg for 3 days, then reduced dose of 100 mg
Sainuddin (2008)[9]88/F78Generalized weaknessPrednisone 40 mg/day
Kusanale (2008)[23]86/F25No informationSteroids
Ciantar (2008)[12]74/F79Neck painMethylprednisolone 1 g IV for 3 days, prednisolone 60 mg/day and methotrexate 12.5 mg weekly
Goicochea (2007) Case  1[11]77/F40Asthenia, fever, right temporal headache, and hemifacial painMethylprednisolone 1 g IV, cyclophosphamide IV and prednisone 80 mg/day
Goicochea (2007) Case  2[11]73/F42Frontotemporal headache, arthralgias and lost vision in right eyeMethylprednisolone 1 g IV for 3 days and prednisone 80 mg/day
Goicochea (2007) Case  3[11]78/F125Headache, left eye visual loss, diplopia, fever and swellingMethylprednisolone 500 mg IV for 3 days and 60 mg/day orally
Lethert (2007)[24]77/F68Head, neck and jaw pain, fever, slurred speech and difficulty chewing.Corticosteroids
Biebl (2004)[6]79/F78Visual reduction on the left eye, abdominal pain with multiple segmental small bowel necrosisPrednisolone and azathioprine (100 mg/day each)
García (2003)[25]83/F67Fever, limb-girdle symptoms, occasional headacheCorticosteroids and methotrexate
Rockey (2002)[2]71/F125Headache, vasculitic rash in buttocks and ischemia over the distal phalanx of thumb and fifth metatarsals bilaterallyHigh-dose steroid therapy
Hellmann (2002)[3]79/F115Fatigue, cough, toothache and visual lossMethylprednisolone IV in high doses and prednisone 60 mg/day

Ref: reference; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; M: male; F: female.