Antonio with lung cancer develops Horner’s syndrome when the tumor invades the ribs and affects the sympathetic nerve ganglia. When assessing for signs and symptoms of this syndrome, the nurse should note:
A. Miosis, partial eyelid ptosis, and anhidrosis on the affected side of the face.
B. Chest pain, dyspnea, cough, weight loss, and fever.
C. Arm and shoulder pain and atrophy of arm and hand muscles, both on the affected side.
D. Hoarseness and dysphagia.
Correct Answer: A. Miosis, partial eyelid ptosis, and anhidrosis on the affected side of the face.
Horner’s syndrome, which occurs when a lung tumor invades the ribs and affects the sympathetic nerve ganglia, is characterized by miosis, partial eyelid ptosis, and anhidrosis on the affected side of the face.
Option B: Chest pain, dyspnea, cough, weight loss, and fever are associated with pleural tumors.
Option C: Arm and shoulder pain and atrophy of the arm and hand muscles on the affected side suggest Pancoast’s tumor, a lung tumor involving the first thoracic and eighth cervical nerves within the brachial plexus.
Option D: Hoarseness in a client with lung cancer suggests that the tumor has extended to the recurrent laryngeal nerve; dysphagia suggests that the lung tumor is compressing the esophagus.