Pancoast tumor
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| ICD-10 | C34.1 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 162.3 |
A pancoast tumor, also pancoast tumour (UK), is a tumor of the pulmonary apex. The growing tumor causes disruption of the sympathetic ganglion due to pressure on it.
Pancoast tumors are named for Henry Pancoast, a US radiologist, who described them in 1924 and 1932.
[edit] Symptoms
Symptoms can include miosis (constriction of the pupils), anhidrosis on effected side(lack of sweating) and ptosis (drooping of the eyelid), in severe cases, a complete Horner's syndrome. In progressive cases, the brachial plexus is also affected, causing pain and weakness in the muscles of the arm and hand.
In superior vena cava syndrome, obstruction of the SVC by a tumor (mass effect) causes facial swelling, cyanosis and dilatation of the veins of the head and neck.
A pancoast tumor is an apical tumor that is typically found in conjunction with a smoking history. The clinical signs and symptoms can be confused with neurovascular compromise at the level of the thoracic outlet. The patient's smoking history, rapid onset of clinical signs and symptoms, and pleuritic pain can suggest an apical tumor.
[edit] External links
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