title: Isolated hypoglossal palsy due to cervical osteophyte.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy is rare, and etiological diagnosis is difficult. We report a case of isolated hypoglossal compression by a cervical osteophyte in the hypoglossal canal exit.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 86-year-old woman with history of cervical spondylotic myelopathy consulted for a lesion of the free edge of the tongue with impaired elocution. Clinical examination found a bite lesion on the right free edge of the tongue with right lingual amyotrophy and associated left deviation on retraction. Isolated right hypoglossal palsy was diagnosed. Skull base CT found a cervical osteophyte compressing the hypoglossal nerve at the exit from the right hypoglossal canal. Surgery was contra-indicated by the patient's general health status. No motor recovery was observed at 6 months' follow-up, but the elocution disorders regressed under speech therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoglossal palsy is infrequent, but generally a sign of skull base pathology. History-taking and careful examination guide rational selection of the radiological examinations required for etiological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervicofaciale, CHU Côte-de-Nacre, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, Caen, France. vtromps@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patron
authors.forename: P-Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Roudaut
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vivent
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bessède
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aubry
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020437:Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D054850:Osteophyte / Q000150:complications*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*