Convulsive syncope as presenting symptom of carotid body tumors: Case series

Abstract

• Carotid body tumor (CBT) is paraganglioma and mainly found in the carotid bifurcation. The manifestations of the tumor are variable; in most cases, it presents as a non-symptomatic slow-growing mass, rarely compression of carotid body induces bradycardia and hypotension and repeated syncope, prolonged syncope can cause convulsion. Convulsive syncope occurred in 0.03% of patients with syncope. In this paper, we report three cases with CBT and convulsive syncope for which surgery was done and patients did not experience syncope again.
• Key words: Carotid body tumor–convulsive syncope