[Chronic ulceration following biopsy of the temporal arteria]

In a 66-year-old man a biopsy of the right temporal artery was taken. Histological examination showed no signs of arteriitis. A few months after the operation the patient developed a chronic ulceration in the right temporal region, probably due to resection of the temporal artery. It is proposed that a biopsy should only include a minor branch, and not the main trunk of the temporal artery.