False localising signs of intracranial lesions are defined as signs not generally associated with disturbances of function at the site of the lesion.^1,2 An intracranial tumour which has not metastasised may give rise to focal signs of disordered nervous function at a distance from itself in a number of ways. Even though these neurological signs are labelled as false localising signs, it is important to be aware that such signs are in no way “false”.³ Various cranial nerve palsies have been reported as false localising signs, with the sixth cranial nerve being the most common.¹ According to Gassel, ninth to 12th cranial nerve palsies never provide false localisation.¹ Since Dodge reported the first case of false localising sign involving the lower cranial nerve, only two cases have been reported in the literature.⁴ We report a third case of false localising sign involving the left ninth and 10th cranial nerves.

A 29 year old man presented to the medical department of our hospital with history of hoarseness of voice of 15 days duration, dysphagia of 1 week duration, and cough with expectoration and respiratory distress of 2 days duration together with history of fever. On examination, he was febrile, with a pulse of 100 bpm and blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg. Respiratory examination revealed bilateral coarse crepitations. Neurological examination revealed absent gag reflex on the left side with deviation of the …