Syncope as a sign of occult malignant recurrence in the retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal space: CT and MR imaging findings in four cases.

Although rare, syncope may result from metastasis to the retropharyngeal or parapharyngeal space and involve or invade the glossopharyngeal nerve or internal carotid artery. We report the CT and MR imaging findings in four patients with syncope that preceded the diagnosis of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma in the pericarotid region. These findings suggest that recurrent carcinoma should be ruled out when a patient with head and neck malignancy and syncope is postoperatively examined.