Horner Syndrome. This post will cover the points you need to know for your board exams as well as for teaching residents on the daily rounds. Please don't use the information here to treat your patients.
Horner syndrome is characterized by a triad of eyelid ptosis, miosis and facial anhidrosis due to involvement of the sympathetic pathways between the hypothalamus and ocular adnexa.
Causes of Horner syndrome include:
- Benign and malignant tumors including thyroid (cancer/nodule), lung (cancer/Pancoast), nerve tumors, pituitary tumors, lymphoma
- Trauma: blunt and penetrating whether accidental or iatrogenic, including carotid and vertebral arteries dissection
- Vascular disorders including Giant cell arteritis and Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Infectious like Herpes zoster and Lyme disease
- Nerve disorders as in hypothalamus and lateral medullary infarcts, Brown-Sequard syndrome, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, multiple sclerosis
This is a book to read for who is interested in Neuro-Ophthalmology.
The information in this post is not for patients and shouldn't be used in treating patients. Please refer to your doctor for medical advice.