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Hypoglossal nerve palsy in the course of dissection of the internal carotid arteries – Case reports
Affiliations- Department of Neurology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze
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Abstract
Internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) has become an increasingly recognized cause of cerebrovascular accidents in young and middle-aged patients. We report 2 cases of hypoglossal nerve palsy in the course of dissection of the internal carotid arteries. The first patient was admitted to the Department of Neurology due to swallowing difficulty, speech articulation disorders and numbness of the right half of the tongue for 4 weeks. Extracranial vessel ultrasound (US) and transcranial colour Doppler (TCD) visualized thrombus causing occlusion of the right internal carotid artery (RICA). Angio-CT revealed a compression on right XII nerve and a dissection of the RICA. The second patient was referred to the Department of Neurology due to articulation disorders and swallowing difficulties. On admission, neurological examination revealed tongue deviation towards the right side with evidence of atrophy of the right half of the tongue, deviation of the uvula to the right side, absence of palatal and pharyngeal reflexes, rhinolalia and dysphagia. Vessel imaging was taken using angio-MR showing mural thrombus of the RICA.
ConclusionThe diagnosis of spontaneous non-traumatic dissection of the carotid arteries is a major challenge for clinicians. ICAD must be considered for young and middle-aged patients when severe headache is preceded by the co-existence of focal neurological symptoms. The probability of ICAD increases in the presence of predisposing diseases. The final diagnosis is based on imaging studies: color duplex ultrasound, CT angiography or MR angiography.
Abstract
Internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) has become an increasingly recognized cause of cerebrovascular accidents in young and middle-aged patients. We report 2 cases of hypoglossal nerve palsy in the course of dissection of the internal carotid arteries. The first patient was admitted to the Department of Neurology due to swallowing difficulty, speech articulation disorders and numbness of the right half of the tongue for 4 weeks. Extracranial vessel ultrasound (US) and transcranial colour Doppler (TCD) visualized thrombus causing occlusion of the right internal carotid artery (RICA). Angio-CT revealed a compression on right XII nerve and a dissection of the RICA. The second patient was referred to the Department of Neurology due to articulation disorders and swallowing difficulties. On admission, neurological examination revealed tongue deviation towards the right side with evidence of atrophy of the right half of the tongue, deviation of the uvula to the right side, absence of palatal and pharyngeal reflexes, rhinolalia and dysphagia. Vessel imaging was taken using angio-MR showing mural thrombus of the RICA.
ConclusionThe diagnosis of spontaneous non-traumatic dissection of the carotid arteries is a major challenge for clinicians. ICAD must be considered for young and middle-aged patients when severe headache is preceded by the co-existence of focal neurological symptoms. The probability of ICAD increases in the presence of predisposing diseases. The final diagnosis is based on imaging studies: color duplex ultrasound, CT angiography or MR angiography.
Keywords
Internal carotid artery dissection, Hypoglossal nerve palsy
About this articleTitle
Hypoglossal nerve palsy in the course of dissection of the internal carotid arteries – Case reports
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
267-273
Published online
2017-08-30
Page views
259
Article views/downloads
384
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2017.08.012
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2018;52(2):267-273.
Keywords
Internal carotid artery dissection
Hypoglossal nerve palsy
Authors
Magdalena Torbus-Paluszczak
Sebastian Mucha
Maciej Wawrzyńczyk
Krystyna Pierzchała
Wojciech Bartman
Monika Adamczyk-Sowa
