title: Persistent idiopathic unilateral isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy: a case report.
abstract: Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy (IHNP) although a rare condition, has been previously reported. A literature review revealed that in most cases, IHNP indicates the presence of an intracranial or extracranial space occupying lesion, head and neck injury, vascular abnormality, infection, autoimmune disease or neuropathy. Reports of idiopathic cases are rare and the vast majority of IHNP are reversible. We report a case of persistent idiopathic unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy, with an emphasis on the investigations necessary to be undertaken on presentation of such a lesion.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, UK. michaelws_ho@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M W S
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fardy
authors.forename: St J V
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Crean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020437:Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis