Horner's syndrome overview

Revision as of 19:36, 19 February 2013 by Shankar Kumar (talk | contribs) (→‎=Physical Examination)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Horner's syndrome Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Horner's syndrome from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Chest X Ray

CT

MRI

Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Horner's syndrome overview On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Horner's syndrome overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Horner's syndrome overview

CDC on Horner's syndrome overview

Horner's syndrome overview in the news

Blogs on Horner's syndrome overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Horner's syndrome

Risk calculators and risk factors for Horner's syndrome overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Horner's syndrome is a clinical syndrome caused by damage to the sympathetic nervous system.

Historical Perspective

It is named after Johann Friedrich Horner, the Swiss ophthalmologist who first described the syndrome in 1869.[1][2] Several others had previously described cases, but "Horner's syndrome" is most prevalent. In France, Claude Bernard is also eponymised with the condition being called "syndrome Bernard-Horner".

Differentiating Horner's syndrome from other Diseases

It is important to distinguish the ptosis caused by Horner's syndrome from the ptosis caused by a lesion to the oculomotor nerve. In the former, the ptosis occurs with a constricted pupil (due to a loss of sympathetics to the eye), whereas in the latter, the ptosis occurs with a dilated pupil (due to a loss of innervation to the sphincter pupillae). In an actual clinical setting, however, these two different ptoses are fairly easy to distinguish. In addition to the blown pupil in a CN III (oculomotor nerve) lesion, this ptosis is much more severe, occasionally occluding the whole eye. The ptosis of Horner's syndrome can be quite mild or barely noticeable.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

There are no direct complications of Horner's syndrome itself. However, there may be complications from the disease that caused Horner's syndrome or from its treatment. The outcome depends on whether treatment of the cause is successful.

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

An eye examination may show changes in how the pupil opens or closes and eyelid drooping. A complete medical and nervous system (neurological) examination can show whether any other parts of the body are affected.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. There is no treatment for Horner's syndrome itself.

References

  1. Horner JF. Über eine Form von Ptosis. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilk 1869;7:193-8.
  2. Template:WhoNamedIt

Template:WH Template:WS