Combined 6th and 12th Cranial Nerve Palsies (Godtfredsen Syndrome) due to Clival Lesions.

BACKGROUND

Godtfredsen syndrome (GS), originally described by Dr. Erik Godtfredsen in 1946, is the combination of cranial nerve (CN) 6th and 12th palsies. The most common etiology of GS is a lesion of the clivus.

METHODS

A retrospective case series of GS is described.

RESULTS

Three patients were included: 1) a 38-year-old woman with a clival breast cancer metastasis; 2) a 35-year-old woman with a clival chordoma; and 3) a 72-year-old woman with a partially embolized dural arteriovenous fistula involving the hypoglossal canal.

CONCLUSIONS

GS is a combination of CN 6th and 12th palsies and most commonly is due to a lesion in the clivus. Clinicians should be aware of this uncommon combination of cranial nerve findings, the localizing significance, and the differential diagnosis of clival lesions.