Case of the Week
Section Editors: Matylda Machnowska1 and Anvita Pauranik2
1University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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June 30, 2008
Hypoglossal Schwannoma
- Close to 90% of cranial nerve schwannomas arise from the 8th cranial nerve, they affect other cranial nerves with a much lower frequency. Hypoglossal schwannomas are rare.
- Clinical presentation of hypoglossal schwannoma is related to CN XII palsy: dysarthria, hemitongue atrophy, tongue fasciculation & deviation towards the side affected.
- Imaging findings of hypoglossal nerve palsy include hemitongue atrophy with fatty replacement, prolapse of hemitongue into the oropharynx.
- Main differential diagnosis of a mass in the hypoglossal canal: meningioma, metastasis, spread of nasopharyngeal carcinoma or large glomus jugulare mass that has grown into the hypoglossal canal