巨細胞動脈炎是一種好發於大血管及中血管的疾病，常見於『斯堪的那維亞』裔五十歲以上的患者，但在非裔美國人及東方人則相當少見。患者常以頭痛，發燒，貧血等來表現。嚴重者可併發有失明的併發症。本土報告有病理切片的案例並不多，而以舌頭壞死來表現者更為罕見。我們報告一例有病理切片證實的93歲男性病人，在發病後雖以類固醇治療頭痛有改善，但最後仍有舌頭壞死的併發症，不得已需以外科手術切除。

Giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous inflammatory disease affecting particularly large and medium sized arteries. Most cases occurred in the Scandinavian elderly greater than 50-year-old. The American Africans and the oriental have a much lower incidence of GCA. Headache, fever and anemia are common symptoms. Blindness is the most dreaded complication. Reported cases of definite GCA with biopsy among local population are rare. Its association with lingual necrosis as a complication is even less well known. We describe a case of biopsy proven GCA in a 93-year-old man who presented with masticatory claudication and severe temporal headache. Lingual necrosis resulting in partial glossectomy occurred despite of prompt improvement of headache after starting treatment with 40 mg of prednisolone on the second day.