Partial Differential Diagnosis for Horner's Syndrome

While reviewing the information below, you might want to refer to a diagram of the sympathetic nervous supply to the eye. Click the thumbnail on the left to open this diagram (pop-ups must be enabled).

3rd-Order Horner's Syndrome

• Carotid artery dissection
  • Life-threatening
• Tumor of cavernous sinus
  • Life-threatening
• Migraine headache
• Cluster headache

2nd-Order Horner's Syndrome

• Sympathetic trunk injury
  • Tumor of neck
    • Life-threatening
  • Injury to neck
• Spinal nerve injury
  • Pancoast tumor (tumor of lung apex)
    • Life-threatening
  • Aortic aneurysm
    • Life-threatening

1st-Order Horner's Syndrome

• Cerebral infarction of brainstem
  • Likely will present with other neurological signs
• Tumor of brainstem
  • Likely will present with other neurological signs
    • Life-threatening