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Radiation-induced cranial nerve palsy: hypoglossal nerve and vocal cord palsies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Toru Takimoto ,
Yasuo Saito ,
Masayuki Suzuki  and
Toshirou Nishimura
Toru Takimoto*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Yasuo Saito
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Masayuki Suzuki
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Toshirou Nishimura
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
*
Toru Takimoto, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa 920, Japan.
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Abstract

Cranial nerve palsies are an unexpected complication of radiotherapy for head and neck tumours. We present a case of this radiation-induced cranial palsy.

An 18-year-old female with nasopharyngeal carcinoma developed a right hypoglossal nerve palsy 42 months after cancericidal doses of radiotherapy. In addition, she developed a bilateral vocal cord palsy 62 months after therapy. Follow-up over four years has demonstrated no evidence of tumour recurrence and no sign of neurological improvement.

Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 105 , Issue 1 , January 1991 , pp. 44 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1991

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