[A case of isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy probably due to dural arteriovenous fistula].

We report here a case of isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy probably caused by dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining headache, tinnitus, and tongue atrophy. Three years before, she first experienced right-sided pulsatile headache and tinnitus which persisted until admission. One week before, she noticed her tongue deviated to right. On admission, physical and neurological examinations showed no abnormal findings except for bruits on right neck and bilateral orbital areas, and atrophy of right tongue. Brain MRI was not remarkable. MRA and conventional angiography disclosed DAVF. We conclude that differential diagnoses for isolated hypoglossal paralysis should include DAVF.