Background/Objective: Our aim was to optimize the most effective MR imaging sequence for visualization of the 12th cranial nerve (hypoglossal nerve) through its cisternal course. Patients and Methods: We applied balanced fast-field echo (B-FFE), 3D-T2 weighted Driven Equilibrium RF Reset Pulse (DRIVE), T2 weighted 2D TSE and post-contrast T1 weighted sequences and tried to find out the best seq...

A 53-year-old woman presented with a complaint of a sore throat. Examination showed a left-sided atrophy of the tongue. Upon protrusion, the tongue deviated to the left, suggestive of a unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. Computed tomography revealed enlarged hypoglossal canals. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated bilateral hypoglossal canal masses, with enhancement following gadolini...

A case of severe bilateral injury to the hypoglossal nerves after two-stage carotid endarterectomy is described. Injury to the hypoglossal nerve occurs in up to 20% of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and may result in mild or unnoticed deficits. These injuries must be carefully searched for in patients who will undergo a similar procedure on the opposite side since a bilateral defici...

Granular cell tumors (GCT) are rare tumors of Schwann cell origin which were more often found in subcutaneous locations than in relation to major nerves. We describe a GCT that occurred within the hypoglossal nerve located in the left submandibular area of a 32-year-old man who initially presented with a muscular atrophy and deviation of the tongue. We also review the literature related to the ...

An 80-year-old man presented with difficulty in swallowing and speaking which had progressed over one year. Neurological examination revealed right hypoglossal nerve palsy with ipsilateral atrophy (Picture A). Laryngoscopic examination was unremarkable. Slowly progressive dysarthria and dysphagia with tongue atrophy initially indicated motor neuron disease (MND), but needle electromyographic ex...

Facial palsy resulting from loss of the intracranial portion of the facial nerve has been reconstructed traditionally by transferring motor axons from the hypoglossal nerve to the facial nerve.1–4 This approach can reinnervate the facial muscles if it is done before these muscles have undergone irreversible atrophy, eliminating the need for a free-muscle transfer. The two major disadvantages of...

Denervation of oropharyngeal muscles in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been suggested by needle electromyography (EMG) and muscle biopsy, but little is known about oropharyngeal nerve conduction abnormalities in OSA. We sought to compare hypoglossal nerve conduction studies in patients with and without OSA. Unilateral hypoglossal nerve conduction studies were performed on 20 subjects with OS...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To describe cortical reorganization after classic hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFA) (four patients), hypoglossal-facial nerve jump anastomosis (HFJA) (three patients), and facial nerve interpositional graft (FNIG) (three patients). STUDY DESIGN Prospective case series. METHODS Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed during lip and tongue mov...

Hypoglossal nerve injury is a recognized but rare complication of oropharyngeal manipulation during intubation, bronchoscopy and use of a laryngeal mask airway. We present 2 new cases of temporary hypoglossal nerve palsy after orotracheal intubation for general anesthesia. The relevant literature is reviewed and different hypotheses concerning the pathophysiological mechanisms of nerve damage a...