Isolated unilateral hypoglossal nerve paralysis caused by an atlanto-occipital joint synovial cyst.
An isolated unilateral hypoglossal nerve lesion is an uncommon cranial nerve palsy. We report a case of isolated hypoglossal nerve paralysis caused by an intra-dural synovial cyst. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a twelfth nerve paralysis caused by a synovial cyst. The anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve, its blood supply and the relationship of the nerve to the atlanto-occipital joint are reviewed, along with the common causes of isolated hypoglossal nerve paralysis.
Mujic
A
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. asimujic1@bigpond.com
Hunn
A
A
Liddell
J
J
Taylor
B
B
Havlat
M
M
Beasley
T
T
D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D020437:Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000209:etiology