Unilateral palsy of the hypoglossal nerve in a patient with tuberculosis of the first cervical vertebra.

A 26-year-old female developed a unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy in association with tuberculosis of the first cervical vertebra. The extensive soft tissue and bony abnormalities were demonstrated only by computerized axial tomography. Involvement of the hypoglossal nerve within the skull by tuberculous granulation tissue was the most likely mechanism for the nerve palsy.