Glossodynia and necrosis of the tongue caused by giant cell arteritis.

Spontaneous, endogenous pain in the tongue (glossodynia) is rare, particularly when this progresses to ulceration and necrosis of the tongue. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with glossodynia that eventually resulted in necrosis of the tongue. The diminished blood supply was the result of histologically confirmed giant cell arteritis.