Abstract

RIBEIRO, Reinaldo Teixeira; SOUZA, Nilton Amorim de  and  CARVALHO, Deusvenir de Souza. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia with syncope as a sign of neck cancer recurrence. Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr. [online]. 2007, vol.65, n.4b, pp. 1233-1236. ISSN 0004-282X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2007000700028.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia with syncope as a sign of neck cancer is a very rare condition. A review of the literature revealed only 29 cases formerly reported. We present the first Brazilian case of such association. A 68-year-old man presented with paroxysmal excruciating pain over the right side of the neck, sometimes followed by syncope. Given the suspicion of recurrent tumor from a previously treated neck malignancy, a computed tomography scan was performed and a right parapharyngeal tumor was shown. Pain and syncope were successfully controlled with carbamazepine and the patient underwent palliative radiotherapy.

Keywords : glossopharyngeal neuralgia; syncope; neck cancer; recurrence.