title: Horner's syndrome in a patient presenting with a spontaneous pneumothorax.
abstract: Spontaneous pneumothoraces are a common thoracic problem presenting to an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. The symptoms and signs are well described and a chest x-ray examination is usually diagnostic. However the neurological signs, specifically a Horner's syndrome on the ipsilateral side, are not widely recognised. This case illustrates the association and emphasises that when assessing a patient with a suspected spontaneous pneumothorax, an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome supports the clinical diagnosis. Further, its presence makes a tensioning pneumothorax, or as in this case a pneumothorax with significant collapse and apical adhesions, more likely. No previous case reporting the association has had the opportunity for thorascopic assessment and demonstration of likely cause.
authors.affiliation: Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thakar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anikin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome