Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and syncope secondary to neck malignancy

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia with syncope, secondary to a malignant tumor in the neck, is an extremely rare condition. Dysman, et al more recently described a case in 1980. In this case, it was initially difficult to confirm the proper diagnosis since recurrent tumor was not able to be detected either clinically or radiographically. The patient was initially treated as syncope due to hypotension and bradycardia, but pacemaker therapy failed to control the cardiovascular abnormality. The administration of Dilantin, however, seems to improve the neuralgic pain and syncope. Due to a poor prognosis from the neck tumor recurrence, and patient refusal of further therapy, no surgical control of symptoms was attempted in this patient. This report is presented to make otolaryngologists aware of this condition.