Cold abcess neck with horner's syndrome-a rare entity

Cold abscess neck is a common disease entity in Indian subcontinent, however its association with Horner's syndrome is rare. Our patient was a girl presenting with neck mass with loss of sweating on same side of face. Her investigations revealed a multiloculated minimally enhancing lesion arising from posterior cervical space and extending into mediastinum, provisional diagnosis of tubercular cold abscess was made and Anti Tubercular Therapy (ATT) was started. She did not show much improvement, so she was operated via left lateral thoracotomy and the mass was excised, post operatively she recovered well. There are several causes of Horner's syndrome but its association with tubercular cold abscess neck is unique and very few case reports exist in English literature. © 2013 Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons.