Isolated Idiopathic Persistent Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy: A Case Series with Review of Literature

Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy is a clinical disorder affecting the hypoglossal nerve presenting with dysphagia, dysarthria, and tongue wasting. The common etiologies are tumor, trauma, vascular lesions, infections, autoimmune/demyelinating disorders, and idiopathic. Isolated idiopathic hypoglossal can occur in a substantial number of cases with variable outcome. This case series of 3 patients (58-year-old woman, 26-year-old woman, and 67-year-old man) presented with isolated idiopathic unilateral hypoglossal palsy of 1-2 months duration, which remained persistent even on 6-8 months of follow-up. The importance of an extensive and meticulous workup cannot be overemphasized in these conditions to rule out the more common treatable and reversible causes.