Syncope: a clue to malignant compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Three patients who were admitted to hospital because of syncope were found to have malignant head and neck tumours. A patient who presented with malignant external otitis with syncope and postural hypotension is also described. It is postulated that the syncope and postural hypotension result from compressive irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve either in the neck or at the base of the skull.
D A
DA
Prentice
J M
JM
Trotter
R H
RH
Edis
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*