Syncope as a rare presentation of papillary thyroid cancer

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.