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Horner's syndrome: a rare presentation of cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

S. Ganesan ,
R. P. S. Harar ,
R. A. Owen ,
R. S. Dawkins  and
A. J. Prior
S. Ganesan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London, UK.
R. P. S. Harar
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London, UK.
R. A. Owen
Affiliation:
Department of Histopathology, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London, UK.
R. S. Dawkins
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London, UK.
A. J. Prior*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A. J. Prior, Department of Otolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, London E11 1NR.
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Abstract

We describe a cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma in a 77-year-old woman who presented with a neck mass and Horner's syndrome. Such schwannomas are rare and this is the first documented case of a Horner's syndrome at presentation. The mass was excised via a cervical approach and her post-operative course was uneventful. The prognosis is excellent, with recurrence being rare. A brief discussion of the pathology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition is made in this paper. The relevance of the uncertainty in diagnosis is discussed with the message that a pre-operative Homer's syndrome may guide the surgeon in the care of the patient but we suggest that in all cases proper counselling of the possible neurological consequences of this surgery be conducted.

Keywords

SchwannomaNeurilemmomaHorner's syndrome
Type
Pathology in Focus
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 5 , May 1997 , pp. 493 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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