Síndrome de Horner secundario a adenocarcinoma primario de timo: reporte de caso

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the case of a patient suffering from Horner's syndrome of an unusual cause, that is, a primary thymic adenocarcinoma. She attended the ophthalmology service at Hospital de San José. Study designA case report. MethodsA review of the literature was performed on Horner's syndrome emphasizing on the causes associated with mediastinal lesions particularly thymic carcinomas, given their low incidence and rare occurrence. Case reportA 41-year-old woman with a six month history of right hemicranial headache radiating to the neck and right arm, paresthesias and right hemifacial anhidrosis, right upper eyelid ptosis and miosis of the right pupil. A thymic neoplasm classified as an adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by imaging tests and evidencing the presence of Horner's syndrome. The tumor was resected and followed by adjuvant oncologic therapy. ConclusionA rare cause of Horner's syndrome is preganglionic compression of the sympathetic pathway by a mediastinal mass such as a thymic adenocarcinoma, one of the most uncommon tumors involving the thymus and the mediastinum.