Central Skull Base Osteomyelitis Causing Bilateral Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy

ABSTRACT

Bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy is a rare clinical presentation. We report a case of central skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) presenting with complete tongue paralysis in a 53-year-old man who was not diabetic or immunocompromised. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated characteristic features including abnormal contrast enhancement in the clivus (T1-weighted images). Blood tests revealed elevated acute-phase reactants and leukocytosis, which prompted prolonged antibiotic treatment. He responded well to the antibiotics, which together with typical clinical and imaging findings led to the diagnosis of bacterial SBO.