The Yield of Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Isolated Horner Syndrome

Abstract

We sought to determine, with a retrospective chart review, the imaging yield for patients with clinically isolated Horner syndrome. MRI/MRA of the head and neck extending from the supraorbital ridge to T4 with fat suppression and with postcontrast images was obtained. Of 88 patients with isolated Horner syndrome who were imaged, 20% had a causative etiology on imaging. The most common cause of an isolated Horner syndrome was a carotid artery dissection. There was 1 patient with a primary malignancy found to be the causative lesion in this group, and 1 patient with spread of their known metastatic disease.

Keywords: Anisocoria; Carotid artery dissection; Imaging yield; Isolated Horner syndrome.