Causes Of Horner Syndrome

Schwannoma

Another cause of Horner syndrome is schwannoma, which occurs when the cells, called the Schwann cells, develop a tumor. These cells are what make up the nerve sheath. The sheath is made of a fatty substance called myelin, forming a protective mantle around the nerves. A direct cause has yet to found; however, neurofibromas are suggested to play a role in the development of the tumors. Schwannomas can cause damage to nerves as well as the spinal cord. However, several reports back up the theory of these tumors as probable causes for Horner syndrome.

In a 2003 case report, a forty-eight-year-old female patient presented a dumbbell-shaped tumor accompanied by ptosis, anisocoria, and anhidrosis. Following removal of the tumor, symptoms improved. A separate case report from 2009 revealed a sixty-year-old female Horner syndrome patient presented a nerve sheath tumor in the lump on her neck. Symptoms included ptosis in the left upper eyelid.

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