Which symptom may indicate cranial nerve involvement in a patient with a brain tumor?

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can be a significant indicator of cranial nerve involvement in patients with brain tumors. The cranial nerves responsible for swallowing include the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), which contributes to the sensory aspect of the swallow reflex, and the vagus nerve (CN X), which controls the muscles involved in swallowing. When a brain tumor exerts pressure on or damages these nerves, it can lead to impaired swallowing ability, resulting in dysphagia.

The presence of dysphagia suggests that the tumor may be located in regions affecting these critical cranial nerves, thus warranting further investigation and possibly more urgent intervention. Understanding the relationship between cranial nerve function and symptoms like dysphagia is crucial for assessing the extent of neurological involvement in patients with brain tumors.