Health Encyclopedia

Horner syndrome

Definition

Horner syndrome is rare condition caused by injury to the sympathetic nerves of the face. It involves a collection of symptoms, including:

Sinking of the eyeball into the face
Small (constricted) pupil
Drooping eyelid (ptosis)
Lack of face sweating

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

There are many potential causes of Horner syndrome. It can be caused by any interruption of the sympathetic nerve fibers, which start in the hypothalamus (a central brain region) and run via the upper spinal cord near the carotid artery to the face.

Sympathetic nerve fiber injuries can result from a stroke in the brainstem, injury to the carotid artery, a tumor in the upper lobe of the lung, and cluster headaches.

Rarely, Horner syndrome may be congenital (present at birth) and associated with a lack of pigmentation of the iris (colored part of the eye). Eye drops and certain medications may also lead to this condition.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include drooping of the eyelid, constriction of the pupil, and decreased sweating on the affected side of the face. These symptoms may vary. Other symptoms associated with the underlying cause may also occur.

Signs and tests

A careful neurological exam is necessary to establish the diagnosis and to find the cause by determining which, if any, other parts of the nervous system are affected. Tests may include:

MRI of the head
Carotid ultrasound
Chest x-ray
CT scan of the chest
Blood tests
Angiogram
Eye drop tests

Treatment

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. There is no specific treatment for Horner syndrome itself.

Expectations (prognosis)

Prognosis is dependent on whether treatment of the underlying cause is successful.

Complications

There are no direct complications of Horner syndrome itself, but complications may be associated with the underlying disease or its treatment.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have any symptoms that may be linked with Horner syndrome.

Review Date:8/7/2006
Reviewed By:Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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