Description
Pancoast Syndrome occurs secondary to local compression of brachial plexus and sympathetic chain by superior (pulmonary) sulcus tumors.
Associated tumors are usually non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and interchangeably referred to as Pancoast Tumours.
Syndrome consists of:
- Shoulder pain: initially localised to shoulder and vertebral border of scapula)
- Radicular pain C8-T2: Progressive ulna nerve distribution pain and muscular atrophy
- Horner syndrome: present in 25% of presentations of Superior sulcus tumors. Extension of neoplastic invasion/compression to involve sympathetic chain and stellate ganglion
Example Cases: CXR Case 064 – CXR Case 069 – Befuddler 025
Associated Persons
- Henry Khunrath Pancoast (1875-1939)
Alternative names
- Pancoast’s Tumour
- Superior Sulcus Tumour
- Pulmonary Sulcus Tumor
- Pancoast’s disease
- Tobías’ syndrome
Controversies
- Pancoast was not the first to describe the neoplasm or the associated syndrome associated with local invasion. British surgeon Edward Selleck Hare (1812-1838) first described in 1838 Publio Ciuffini described lung apical tumor with local invasion in 1911.
- Pancoast described three cases in 1924 and in 1932 described the tumor as a “superior pulmonary sulcus tumor“. Pancoast incorrectly described the tumors as ‘arsing from epitheleal rests of the 5th brachial cleft‘.
- J. W. Tobías correctly surmised the tumor site of origin as bronchopulmonary tissue in his 1932 publication
References
- Pancoast HK. Importance of careful roentgen-ray investigation of apical chest tumors. Journal of the American Medical Association, Chicago, 1924, 83: 1407. [JAMA text]
- Pancoast HK. Superior pulmonary sulcus tumor. Tumor characterised by pain, Horner’s syndrome, destruction of bone and atrophy of hand muscles. Journal of the American Medical Association,1932, 99: 1391-1396. [JAMA text]
- Hare, ES. Tumor involving certain nerves. London Medical Gazette, 2nd series, 1838/39, 1: 16-18.
- Tobías, JW. Sindrome ápico-costo-vertebral doloroso por tumor apexiano. Su valor diagnóstico en el cáncer primitivo pulmonare. Revista medica Latino-americana, Buenos Aires, 1932, 17: 1522-1557.
- The Pancoast Era – University of Pennsylvania [PDF Full text]
- Arcasoy, SM. Jett, JR. Superior Pulmonary Sulcus Tumors and Pancoast’s Syndrome N Engl J Med 1997; 337:1370-1376 [Full Text] [PMID 9358132]
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