Herein we report a case of jugular foramen schwannoma with hypoglossal nerve palsy as a first symptom. A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of right-sided swelling, discomfort of his tongue and dysarthria. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the first visit showed right-sided tongue atrophy and steatosis, however no cerebrovascular disorder or neoplastic lesion that could cause it, and the appropriate examinations did not confirm either diagnosis. Hoarseness and dysphagia were observed five months after the first visit, and a jugular foramen tumor was subsequently indicated on MRI seven months after the first visit. The hypoglossal nerve palsy was considered to be caused by nerve compression due to the jugular foramen tumor. A craniotomy tumor resection was performed ten months after the first visit and schwannoma was diagnosed based on histopathological examination of the specimens. Recurrence was observed, and gammaknife treatment was performed 14 months later, reducing the tumor size. There was no tumor growth four years post-operation, and no worsening of tongue motor function or dysarthria.
