Routine Screening for Neuroblastoma in Harlequin Syndrome without
Otherwise Known Etiology
- Colburn Yu,
- Nura El-Haj,
- Sunghoon Kim,
- Carla Golden,
- Anurag K. Agrawal
Abstract
Harlequin syndrome is characterized as ipsilateral loss of vasomotor and
sudomotor function with contralateral hyperhidrosis and flushing in
response to heat, exercise, or emotional stimuli caused by disruption to
the sympathetic cervical chain. Here, we present a case of Harlequin
syndrome in a 1-year-old male with subsequent identification of
paraspinal neuroblastoma. Though Horner syndrome, another form of
dysautonomia, has been associated with neuroblastoma, this is the first
documentation of Harlequin syndrome with neuroblastoma in the English
medical literature. Familiarity with the underlying anatomy and
pathophysiology should be understood to prevent misdiagnosis in patients
with potential early signs of neuroblastoma.