aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Causes of a glossopharyngeal nerve palsy can be divided into those of central and peripheral origin:

Central causes including:

  • tumours
  • vascular lesions, e.g. lateral medullary syndrome
  • syringobulbia
  • motor neurone disease

Peripheral - posterior fossa - causes including:

  • tumours
  • aneurysms
  • chronic meningitis
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome