Facial Nerve Palsy after Temporal Artery Biopsy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Internal Medicine
• Geriatrics

Background:

• A 79-year-old female presented with a chronic, month-long headache.
• Her medical history includes hypertension, congestive heart failure, anemia, chronic kidney disease, and hyperlipidemia.
• The headache was described as waxing and waning, affecting bilateral frontal and occipital regions.

Observation:

• Physical examination revealed mild right-sided ptosis.
• Signs of possible early right-sided papilledema were noted.
• Bilateral shoulder and scalp tenderness were present.

Findings:

• The patient denied symptoms suggestive of giant cell arteritis, such as jaw claudication or vision changes.
• The constellation of symptoms, including headache, ptosis, and papilledema, in an elderly patient warrants a thorough neurological and vascular evaluation.

Implications:

• Urgent neuroimaging and further diagnostic workup are indicated to determine the etiology of the headache and associated neurological signs.
• Early diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent potential complications associated with underlying neurological conditions.