title: Intermittent hypoglossal nerve palsy caused by a calcified persistent hypoglossal artery: an uncommon neurovascular compression syndrome.
abstract: Neurovascular compression is assumed to cause symptoms like trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and vestibular paroxysmia. We present a patient with recurrent episodes of transient dysarthria due to isolated right hypoglossal nerve (HN) palsy. We describe the first case of a calcified persistent hypoglossal artery (PHA) as the putative cause of a hypoglossal neurovascular compression syndrome. Our patient received a daily low-dose medication of carbamazepine resulting in complete relief of symptoms. In conclusion, PHA is not only an anatomic variation but also a possible cause of a neurovascular compression syndrome leading to intermittent HN palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Klinikum Duisburg-Sana Kliniken, Zu den Rehwiesen 9, D-47055 Duisburg, Germany. dan.meila@sana.de
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meila
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wetter
authors.forename: Friedhelm
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brassel
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nacimiento
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D020437:Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine