[Cerebral thrombophlebitis: parotidectomy complication in a child]

Onset of cerebral thrombophlebitis following parotidectomy in a child is reported.

A seven-year-old boy presenting apparently benign tumefaction in the right parotid gland area had undergone a conservative right total parotidectomy. The histological examination of the operative specimen suggested a diffuse neurofibroma as part of a clinical picture of Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. The immediate postoperative follow-up was marked by a pyramidal syndrome in the left hemibody, with the CT scan showing thrombophlebitis. After treatment combining an anticoagulant, a vasodilator and an antibiotic, the patient progressed toward partial recovery of left hemibody motor activity.

This cerebral vascular accident is related to the angiodysplasia encountered in Recklinghausen's disease. Anticoagulants initialized rapidly are the only demonstrated therapy to improve the prognosis in this type of complication.