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[Frey syndrome after lateral parotidectomy. Follow-up and therapeutic outlook]
C Küttner1, A Berens, M Tröger
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichts-Chirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. Kuettner.Christian@mh-hannover.de
Background:
Gustatory sweating is a common complication of parotid surgery.
Patients And Methods:
In order to evaluate the incidence of Frey's syndrome following superficial parotidectomy, 69 patients who underwent surgery due to adenoma were studied. Forty-three patients (62%) suffered from gustatory sweating following superficial parotidectomy, and 33 of them requested treatment. Nineteen patients felt that their quality of life had been decreased by the symptoms.
Results:
Minor's starch iodine test proved that 85% of the patients who did not notice Frey's syndrome after surgery actually had a subclinical manifestation. Eight patients were successfully treated with intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A. Within 1 week gustatory sweating disappeared.
Conclusion:
Frey's syndrome is present in almost all patients following superficial parotidectomy and there is a strong need for treatment. Intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A is an effective treatment in severe cases of the syndrome.
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