Acute lingual ischaemia complicating temporal arteries

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Rheumatology
• Neurology

Background:

• Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting medium and large arteries.
• Extracranial involvement, while less common, can manifest in diverse ways, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A patient presented with intermittent claudication of the tongue, a rare symptom indicative of compromised blood flow.
• This was followed by signs of incipient gangrene, suggesting severe arterial compromise.

Findings:

• The patient received a diagnosis of extensive extracranial arteritis, likely a manifestation of GCA.
• Prompt administration of steroid and anticoagulant therapy resulted in a rapid and positive clinical response.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of recognizing unusual presentations of temporal arteritis, such as tongue claudication.
• Early therapeutic intervention is crucial for preventing severe complications like tissue necrosis and improving patient outcomes.