HORNERS-SYNDROME - A RARE PRESENTATION OF CERVICAL SYMPATHETIC CHAIN SCHWANNOMA

We describe a cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma in a 77-year-old w oman who presented with a neck mass and Horner's syndrome. Such schwan nomas are rare and this is the first documented case of a Horner's syn drome at presentation. The mass was excised via a cervical approach an d her post-operative course was uneventful. The prognosis is excellent , with recurrence being rare. A brief discussion of the pathology, pre sentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition is made in this paper. The relevance of the uncertainty in diagnosis is discussed with the message that a pre-operative Horner's syndrome may guide the surg eon in the care of the patient but we suggest that in all cases proper counselling of the possible neurological consequences of this surgery be conducted.