A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report

Abstract Background Renal cell carcinoma is a rare pediatric solid tumor that typically presents with hematuria, abdominal mass, or flank pain. It is uncommon for renal cell carcinoma to manifest with headache and isolated extra-urogenital symptoms. We present, to our knowledge, the first case of re...

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Main Authors: Shadi Shams, Abigail Broughton, Katrina Lambeth, Aditi Trivedi, Dehua Wang, Sun Choo, Katherine Dove
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05193-3
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author Shadi Shams
Abigail Broughton
Katrina Lambeth
Aditi Trivedi
Dehua Wang
Sun Choo
Katherine Dove
author_facet Shadi Shams
Abigail Broughton
Katrina Lambeth
Aditi Trivedi
Dehua Wang
Sun Choo
Katherine Dove
author_sort Shadi Shams
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Renal cell carcinoma is a rare pediatric solid tumor that typically presents with hematuria, abdominal mass, or flank pain. It is uncommon for renal cell carcinoma to manifest with headache and isolated extra-urogenital symptoms. We present, to our knowledge, the first case of renal cell carcinoma with bony metastases, presenting initially as isolated cranial nerve twelve palsy. Although bony metastases can occur in renal cell carcinoma, skull-based metastases and cranial neuropathies are exceedingly rare, especially in the pediatric population. Case presentation We describe the unusual presentation of renal cell carcinoma with bony skull-based metastases presenting initially as isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy, that progressed to multiple cranial neuropathies in a previously healthy 14-year-old female of Indian descent. Conclusion The differential for hypoglossal nerve with evolving cranial nerves 9 and 10 involvement can be broad owing to the course of the nerve, the structures surrounding it, and its pathway. It is important for providers to include bony metastatic disease in the differential diagnosis for headaches with multiple cranial neuropathies.
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language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Medical Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-20bcbb104321459a8d2fd030d9e83ed32025-08-20T01:56:06ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472025-04-011911610.1186/s13256-025-05193-3A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case reportShadi Shams0Abigail Broughton1Katrina Lambeth2Aditi Trivedi3Dehua Wang4Sun Choo5Katherine Dove6Department of Pediatrics, University of CaliforniaSchool of Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of CaliforniaAbstract Background Renal cell carcinoma is a rare pediatric solid tumor that typically presents with hematuria, abdominal mass, or flank pain. It is uncommon for renal cell carcinoma to manifest with headache and isolated extra-urogenital symptoms. We present, to our knowledge, the first case of renal cell carcinoma with bony metastases, presenting initially as isolated cranial nerve twelve palsy. Although bony metastases can occur in renal cell carcinoma, skull-based metastases and cranial neuropathies are exceedingly rare, especially in the pediatric population. Case presentation We describe the unusual presentation of renal cell carcinoma with bony skull-based metastases presenting initially as isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy, that progressed to multiple cranial neuropathies in a previously healthy 14-year-old female of Indian descent. Conclusion The differential for hypoglossal nerve with evolving cranial nerves 9 and 10 involvement can be broad owing to the course of the nerve, the structures surrounding it, and its pathway. It is important for providers to include bony metastatic disease in the differential diagnosis for headaches with multiple cranial neuropathies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05193-3Skull base metastasisRenal cell carcinomaRCCHypoglossal nerveGlossopharyngeal nerveMultiple cranial neuropathies
spellingShingle Shadi Shams
Abigail Broughton
Katrina Lambeth
Aditi Trivedi
Dehua Wang
Sun Choo
Katherine Dove
A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Skull base metastasis
Renal cell carcinoma
RCC
Hypoglossal nerve
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Multiple cranial neuropathies
title A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report
title_full A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report
title_fullStr A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report
title_full_unstemmed A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report
title_short A case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma: a case report
title_sort case of hypoglossal nerve palsy with evolving cranial nerve involvement in renal cell carcinoma a case report
topic Skull base metastasis
Renal cell carcinoma
RCC
Hypoglossal nerve
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Multiple cranial neuropathies
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05193-3
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