Premium
The Numb Chin Syndrome as an Early Manifestation of Giant‐Cell (Temporal) Arteritis: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Abilleira Sònia,
Bowler John V.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.00276_1.x
Subject(s) - hypoesthesia , chin , medicine , arteritis , malignancy , dermatology , etiology , giant cell arteritis , pathology , surgery , anatomy , vasculitis , disease
We describe a 70‐year‐old woman with a 2‐month history of a numb chin and gradually increasing bilateral headache and malaise. Neurological examination disclosed chin hypoesthesia while investigations showed a normocytic anemia, ESR of 100, and CRP of 72. A CT brain scan, chest X‐ray, and bone scan showed no evidence of malignancy. Temporal arteritis was suspected and prednisolone started with prompt resolution of the headache, chin hypoesthesia, ESR, and CRP. This case illustrates an unusual etiology of the numb chin syndrome, which in most occasions is associated with malignancy. Temporal arteritis should be borne in mind as a possible explanation for this as it is a treatable condition with potentially serious, life‐threatening complications.