Pancoast syndrome (historically known as Ciuffini-Pancoast-Tobías syndrome, Hare syndrome or variation thereof) results from involvement of the brachial plexus and sympathetic chain by a Pancoast tumor or, less commonly, from other tumors - or even non-malignant disease - involving the lung apex.
Clinical presentation
The syndrome consists of:
- shoulder pain
- C8-T2 radicular pain
- Horner syndrome
The classical syndrome is uncommon, with Horner syndrome present in only 25%.
History and etymology
Pancoast syndrome as a result of apical lung tumors was described in a number of publications (by Hare in 1838, Ciuffini in 1911 and Tobias in 1932) before Pancoast reported it using the term 'superior pulmonary sulcus tumor' 2-4.
- Edward Selleck Hare (1812-1838), British physician
-
Publio Ciuffini (18??-19??), Italian physician
- Ciuffini, is mentioned in non-referenced sources 2, an original reference remains elusive
- Henry Khunrath Pancoast (1875-1939), American radiologist, Philadelphia
- Jose W Tobias, Argentine physician, Buenos Aires 4