Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T11:27:48.875Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A case of paraganglioma of the hypoglossal nerve

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2010

M R B Farr*
Affiliation:
College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
T P C Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham, UK
A R Walsh
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham, UK
R M Irving
Affiliation:
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Matthew Farr, 14 Guild St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6RE, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Introduction:

Paragangliomas are rare tumours arising from the paraganglia of the autonomic nervous system.

Case report:

We present a case of a paraganglioma arising from the hypoglossal nerve and producing an unusual clinical picture at presentation.

Discussion:

We supply radiological evidence of a paraganglioma originating from the hypoglossal nerve, and thus extend the evidence base for this rare site of origin. Our patient presented as an emergency with long tract neurological symptoms and progressive brainstem involvement. This presentation is not characteristic of paragangliomas in general, which usually have an indolent growth pattern and often demonstrate benign symptoms for a number of years prior to diagnosis. The location of a hypoglossal paraganglioma differs significantly from more common paragangliomas described in the neck and skull base, and this should inform the surgical approach undertaken.

Type
Online Only Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Guild, SR. The glomus jugulare, a nonchromaffin paraganglion, in man. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1953;62:1045–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Lack, EE. Tumors of the Adrenal Gland and Extra-adrenal Paraganglia. Atlas of Tumor Pathology. Washington DC: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1997Google Scholar
3El Silimy, O, Harvy, L. A clinico-pathological classification of laryngeal paraganglioma. J Laryngol Otol 1992;106:635–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Talbot, AR. Paraganglioma of the maxillary sinus. J Laryngol Otol 1990;104:248–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Kania, RE, Bouccara, D, Colombani, J-M, Molas, G, Sterkers, O. Primary facial canal paraganglioma. Am J Otolaryngol 1999;20:318–22CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Corrado, S, Montanini, V, De Gaetani, C, Borghi, F, Papi, G. Primary paraganglioma of the thyroid gland. J Endocrinol Invest 2004;27:788–92CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Chambers, EF, Norman, D, Dedo, HH, Ferrell, LD. Primary nasopharyngeal chemodectoma. Neuroradiology 1982;23:285–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Wilson, H. Carotid body tumours. Surgery 1966;59:483–93Google Scholar
9Shintani, T, Oyake, D, Kanayama, R, Takakuwa, T, Koizuka, I. Rare localization of paraganglioma in head and neck. Auris Nasus Larynx 2003;30:149–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Takayama, M, Konishi, K, Kishimoto, C, Kanazawa, A, Yamane, H. A case of cervical paraganglioma: usefulness of FDG PET imaging and a possibility of rare origination. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 2004;554:81–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Maselli, M, Conforti, M, Rispoli, P, Apostolou, D, Ortensio, M, Scovazzi, P et al. Two cases of rare neck tumours: a vagal paraganglioma and a hypoglossal nerve paraganglioma [in Italian]. Otorinolaringologia Milan 2004;54:51–6Google Scholar
12Marchesi, M, Biffoni, M, Jaus, MO, Nobili Benedetti, R, Tromba, L, Berni, A et al. Surgical treatment of paragangliomas of the carotid body and other rare localisations. J Cardiovasc Surg 1999;40:691–4Google ScholarPubMed
13Cece, JA, Lawson, W, Biller, HF, Eden, AR, Parisier, SC. Complications in the management of large glomus jugulare tumors. Laryngoscope 1987;97:152–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Pellitteri, PK, Rinaldo, A, Myssiorek, D, Jackson, CG, Bradley, PJ, Devaney, KO et al. Paragangliomas of the head and neck. Oral Oncol 2004;40:563–75CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Smith, PG, Backer, RJ, Kletzker, GR, Mishler, ET, Loosmore, JL, Leonetti, JP et al. Surgical management of transcranial hypoglossal schwannomas. Am J Otol 1995;16:451–6Google ScholarPubMed
16Calzada, G, Isaacson, B, Yoshor, D, Oghalai, JS. Surgical approaches to the hypoglossal canal. Skull Base 2007;17:187–96CrossRefGoogle Scholar