Hemiatrophy of the tongue and hypoglossal nerve palsy presenting with hypoglossal schwannoma: A rare case report

Patients with tongue hemiatrophy and/or hypoglossal nerve palsy are rarely encountered in clinical dental practice. Here we report our case of a 69-year-old woman with a 5-year history of hemiatrophy of the tongue presenting with hypoglossal nerve palsy. Following examination by the dentists and neurologists, she was found to have a left hypoglossal tumor and was diagnosed as having hypoglossal schwannoma. In view of the indolent nature of the tumor, a neurosurgical approach was not considered necessary unless the tumor became larger and/or symptomatic. Some patients may consider these symptoms serious in the early stages, but these tumors are slow growing and have a benign nature. However, the possible oral manifestations of this neurologic disorder and rare nature of this condition should be kept in mind during routine examination.