Hypoglossal Neurinoma without Preoperative Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy - Report of 2 Cases -

ABSTRACT

Intracranial hypoglossal neurinomas are rare and only about fifty cases have been reported worldwidely. They usually present with hypoglossal nerve palsy preoperatively. The authors experienced, however, two cases of intracranial hypoglossal neurinomas without preoperative hypoglossal nerve palsy. One patient was operated using transcondylar retrosigmoid approach with C1 laminectomy and the other using midline suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy. Postoperatively hypoglossal nerve palsy was developed in both cases. Absence of preoperative hypoglossal palsy seemed to be related to somewhat different growth pattern in these two cases. When the tumor shows typical radiological findings of hypoglossal neurinoma, it must be included in differential diagnosis despite absence of preoperative hypoglossal nerve palsy.