Primarily extracranial jugular foramen neurinoma manifesting with marked hemiatrophy of the tongue: case report.

Background: There have been no detailed descriptions of the clinical symptoms of a primarily extracranial jugular foramen neurinoma (JFN), because this type of tumor is extremely rare.

Case Description: Although the 51-year-old woman presented with only mild complaints of dysphagia and hoarseness, neurologic examination revealed marked left hemiatrophy of the tongue. Although magnetic resonance imaging suggested a JFN, the patient's mild symptoms and normal jugular foramen were potentially misleading in the diagnosis of this patient. Surgical exploration demonstrated that the tumor originated from the extracranial portion of the 10th cranial nerve, extending into the jugular foramen. Subtotal resection ameliorated the 12th cranial nerve palsy.

Conclusion: The authors present a case of a primarily extracranial JFN manifesting as a 12th nerve palsy. The clinical symptoms and signs produced by a tumor in this extremely rare location are discussed.