[Pneumoparotid: a rare cause of recurrent parotid swelling]

Pneumoparotid is a rare cause of recurrent parotid swelling. It is often fortuitous, caused by an action inducing intraoral pressure, increased or self-induced.

An 8-year-old boy presented with recurrent right unilateral parotid swelling for 2 years. A CT-scan was performed, outside of the acute phase, which revealed the presence of intraparotid air bubbles.

Pneumoparotitis results from air flowing back into Stensen's duct, due to an anatomical abnormality and a significant increase of intraoral pressure. The diagnosis is made on clinical examination, often completed by a morphological examination (cervicofacial CT-scan or parotid ultrasound investigation). The outcome is most often favorable, with symptomatic treatment, and sometimes antibiotic prophylaxis. Patient education is the best means to prevent recurrence.