Hypoglossal nerve palsy
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Hypoglassal nerve palsy refers to paralysis of the 12th cranial nerve. It is most often caused by a tumor and causes wasting and twitching of one side of the tongue.
Causes
Common Causes
Causes In Alphabetical Order
- Acoustic neuromas
- Cancer
- Carotid artery dissection
- Chordoma
- Glioma
- High forceps delivery
- Idiopathic isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy
- Impacted tooth
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Intubation
- Kennedy’s disease
- Metastatic carcinomas
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nasopharyngeal carcinomas
Epidemiology and Demographics
Tumors account for approximately half the cases, and the most common causes include metastatic carcinomas, chordomas, nasopharyngeal carcinomas, gliomas, and acoustic neuromas.
Diagnosis
Physical Examination
Neurologic
- Atrophy and fasciculations on one side of the tongue
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