A case series of partial Horner's syndrome due to internal carotid artery dissection: More common than previously thought

Abstract

We report a series of patients, who presented to a district general hospital with painful partial Horner's Syndrome due to internal carotid artery dissection. None of the patients had a cerebral ischaemic complication and all were treated with aspirin. Internal carotid artery dissection is an important cause of headache and isolated partial Horner's Syndrome. We highlight that internal carotid artery dissection may present with subtle symptoms and signs and suggest that emergency, acute and general physicians need to have a low index of suspicion for this condition. We suggest that internal carotid artery dissection may be a more common event than previously thought due to improved imaging techniques. We describe ongoing efforts to answer the question whether anti-coagulation or anti-platelet therapy is the most appropriate treatment.