Skull base metastases causing acute bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 148; no. 1; pp. 127 - 129
• Main Authors: Rotta, Francisco T, Romano, José G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 01.05.1997; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Articulation disorders; Articulation Disorders - diagnostic imaging; Articulation Disorders - etiology; Articulation Disorders - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cranial nerves; Deglutition; Humans; Hypoglossal nerve; Hypoglossal Nerve - diagnostic imaging; Hypoglossal Nerve - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Metastases; Middle Aged; Neurology; Skull Base Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Skull Base Neoplasms - secondary; Skull neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tongue Diseases - etiology; Tongue Diseases - physiopathology; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Articulation disorders; Deglutition; Hypoglossal nerve; Skull neoplasms; Cranial nerves; Metastases; Human; Nervous system diseases; Tongue; Motor system disorder; Bilateral; Male; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; Cerebral disorder; Case study; Cranial nerve disease; Etiology; Central nervous system disease; ENT disease; Diagnosis; Paralysis; Base of the skull
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-510X(96)05302-6

Acute bilateral tongue palsy is a rare clinical presentation. We report one such case caused by skull base metastases from prostate cancer. There were no other cranial nerves involved or associated neurological deficit. Mild improvement was seen following radiation therapy. We review the anatomy of the nerve and differential diagnosis of its disfunction.