Horner Syndrome, from Suspicion to Diagnosis Confirmation and Treatment

Authors

  • Magda Costa Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-9658
  • Ana Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5819-1677
  • Joana Serviço de Oftalmologia, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6864-8722
  • Filipe Gonçalves Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
  • Jorge Cotter Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal

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https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.99

Keywords:

Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection, Horner Syndrome/diagnosis, Horner Syndrome/therapy

Abstract

Horner syndrome (HS) is characterized by ptosis, miosis
and anhidrosis, due to an interruption of the oculosympathetic pathway along the cephalic, ocular or neck segments. This clinical case reports a 53-year-old man with a one week history of frontal headache, right ptosis and anisocoria. Cerebral and supra-aortic vessels angio-computed tomography was performed, excluding an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic event and carotid dissection. At the third apraclonidine test attempt, 8 days after admission, HS was confirmed. Then a cranioencephalic angio-magnetic resonance imaging was performed, revealing carotid dissection. The patient was proposed to initiate antiplatelet and antilipidemic therapy. After three months, he presented extracranial carotid dissection resolution. In this case, we emphasize the role of the apraclonidine test in this neurologic syndrome approach, and a conservative therapeutic approach allowed not only case resolution,
but also iatrogenic mitigation.

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The patient presented 1 mm right ptosis and slight anisocoria in room light at hospital admission

Published

2024-02-26

How to Cite

Costa, M., Ana, Joana, Gonçalves, F., & Cotter, J. (2024). Horner Syndrome, from Suspicion to Diagnosis Confirmation and Treatment. SPMI Case Reports, 2(1), 19–24. https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.99

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