Nasopharyngeal cancer presented with attacks of syncope

Abstract

Patients with head and neck cancer have a tendency to have metastatic cervical lymph nodes. Some of them develop syncope because of physical compression of the carotid sinus and which have been reported as carotid sinus hypersensitivity syndrome (CSHS). Most of these cases are terminal. We encountered a patient with pharyngeal carcinoma who developed syncope as an early symptom. We surgically removed the cervical lymph nodes and the syncope attack disappeared.
We call the case in which the syncope symptom is caused by a repetition of a carotid reflex carotid sinus hypersensitivity syndrome.
We suggest performing an operation concurrently with chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) and drug therapy as a treatment. Most patients with a metastatic cervical lymph node have advanced cancers. It is suggested that the implantation of a pacemaker is important so as to open up the range of options.