A Case of Carotid Sinus Syndrome Associated with Oropharyngeal Cancer for Which Continuous Explanation of His Condition and Lifestyle Guidance Were Effective in Outpatient Department of Palliative Medicine
- VernacularTitle:緩和ケア外来での継続的な病態説明と生活指導が有効であった中咽頭がんに合併する頸動脈洞症候群の1例
- Author:
Yu MORIYAMA
1
;
Yoshihiko SAKASHITA
1
;
Akiko YOSHIMURA
1
;
Hirotoshi SASANUMA
1
;
Natsuko TAGUCHI
1
;
Masami FUJISATO
1
Author Information
- Keywords: terminal cancer; carotid sinus syndrome; lifestyle guidance
- From:Palliative Care Research 2025;20(1):23-27
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
- Abstract: Introduction: Carotid sinus syndrome is rarely associated with head and neck malignant cancer. We usually have no effective treatment for carotid sinus syndrome in terminal stage of cancer. We experienced a case in which continuous explanation of his condition and lifestyle guidance resulted in alleviation of syncope attacks. Case: A 73-year-old male who was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer and with multiple lymph node metastases in the neck. Dizziness and syncope attacks occurred to him due to carotid sinus syndrome. He was referred to the outpatient department of palliative medicine, then he and his wife received explanation of his condition and lifestyle guidance of avoiding triggers and of how to avoid syncope attacks at the onset of prodomal symptoms. The frequency of attacks decreased and he resumed his daily walk. However, attacks without triggers began to occur to him seven months after the intervention started. Although he continued to stay at home, he was hospitalized due to difficulty in body movement and died the next day. Discussion: Explanation of his condition and lifestyle guidance were useful for management of syncope attacks because the syncope attacks had triggers and prodomal symptoms. The interventions including lifestyle guidance improved his quality of life and let him stay at home.
