Syncope as a rare presentation of papillary thyroid cancer

BMJ Case Rep. 2023 Feb 7;16(2):e250361. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250361.

Abstract

Syncope as a presentation for head and neck cancers is extremely rare. We report a case of a man in his 50s presenting with syncope and a left-sided neck mass. The diagnosis of syncope was secondary to a neck mass compressing the carotid body. After biopsy, it was found to be a metastatic papillary thyroid cancer for which the patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. We describe a workflow protocol for investigating patients presenting with syncope and associated neck mass. The work-up for such patients should include general, cardiological and otolaryngological-specific investigations.

Keywords: Ear, nose and throat; Head and neck cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Papillary* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neck / pathology
  • Neck Dissection / methods
  • Syncope
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary / surgery
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Thyroidectomy / methods