What are the clinical manifestations of Horner's syndrome in lung cancer?
May 15, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Qifeng
Introduction
The clinical manifestations of Horner's syndrome associated with lung cancer generally include chest pain, hoarseness, and dyspnea, among others. A detailed analysis is as follows: Horner's syndrome in lung cancer refers to a set of symptoms arising from local tumor spread. The primary lesion typically originates in the pulmonary glands, and the disease is mainly associated with long-term smoking and other factors.
The clinical manifestations of Horner's syndrome associated with lung cancer generally include chest pain, hoarseness, and dyspnea, as detailed below:
1. Chest Pain
Horner's syndrome in lung cancer refers to a set of symptoms arising from local tumor spread. The primary lesion of lung cancer originates in the pulmonary glands and is mainly associated with long-term smoking. Harmful substances in tobacco smoke can invade lung cells, causing malignant transformation and ultimately leading to lung cancer. As cancer cells proliferate, they may invade the chest wall muscles and nerve cells, potentially resulting in chest pain.
2. Hoarseness
If cancer cells spread via the lymphatic system to the laryngeal region and compress nerves controlling the larynx, the vocal cords may be affected. This impairs voice production and leads to hoarseness.
3. Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)
As the disease progresses, changes in intrathoracic pressure and reduced vascular permeability may lead to increased secretions and the formation of pleural effusion. The accumulated fluid restricts normal lung expansion during respiration, potentially causing dyspnea.
In addition, patients may experience other symptoms such as ptosis (drooping eyelid), enophthalmos (sunken eyeball), and anhidrosis (reduced sweating) on the affected side of the chest wall. Patients are advised to follow medical instructions for treatment and must not discontinue medications without guidance. Those who smoke should quit smoking as early as possible to reduce exposure to harmful gases.
