Dumbbell-Shaped Hypoglossal Neurinoma: Case Report and One-stage Operation

ABSTRACT

A case of dumbbell-shaped hypoglossal neurinoma is reported. Neurinomas of the hypoglossal nerve are very rare, only 35 cases reported. Of these cases, most are intracranial and only 7 were dumbbell-shaped with both intracranial and extracranial components. The clinical feature of the patient was marked ipsilateral atrophy of the tongue. Magnetic resonance imaging should be included in the examination of tumors, and great aids in planning the radical removal of the tumor. In this one-stage operation which was modified lateral inferior suboccipital craniectomy, the most important aspect was removal of the posterior wall of anterior condylar canal and lateral mass of C1. This approach requires a thorough understanding of microsurgical anatomy of the region of foramen magnum. Patient's postoperative course was uneventful. The literatures concerning this lesion were reviewed.