Asymmetric tongue muscle uptake of F-18 fludeoxyglucose in a 75-year-old male patient with nasopharyngeal cancer: Possible marker for hypoglossal nerve injury

Abstract

A 75-year-old man, with nasopharyngeal cancer, had multiple metastases on 2-F-18 Fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging. The left hemitongue had increased activity as compared with the right. This was not the result of the presence of a metastasis to the tongue or underlying gross tumors, as shown by a negative magnetic resonance imaging brain and failure to demonstrate a lesion over a period of weeks. Uptake was likely related to the left hemiglossal muscle activity. This was made more apparent by decreased uptake on the right side of the tongue (up to the midline) as a result of cranial nerve hypoglossal injury.