title: Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the neck presenting with Horner syndrome - a cause of the condition not previously described.
abstract: Horner syndrome, a combination of pupillary miosis, ptosis and facial anhidrosis, results from damage to the oculosympathetic nerve pathways. It can occur anywhere from the hypothalamus to the eye, but to our knowledge, metastatic disease to a node in the neck from a mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck has not previously been reported as a primary cause in humans. It is surprising that it does not present more often given the frequency of metastatic disease in the neck. We discuss how it may have occurred, and highlight the importance of a thorough examination and investigation of the head and neck in patients who present with unusual neurological signs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY; Maxillofacial Unit, St Richards Hospital, Chichester PO19 4SE.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, St Richards Hospital, Chichester PO19 4SE.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koraitim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY. Electronic address: peter.brennan@porthosp.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D001763:Blepharoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck
keywords: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Horner's syndrome; Metastasis; Neck