Parotitis on Ultrasound: The Pomegranate Sign

Carrie Ng1, Keegan Tupchong2,3, Rosemary Thomas-Mohtat4

  • 1From the Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine.

Insights

Facial swelling in children presents diagnostic challenges. Point-of-care ultrasound aided in diagnosing acute parotitis with sialolithiasis, a rare pediatric condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Facial swelling in children has a broad differential diagnosis.
  • Accurate diagnosis in the pediatric emergency department can be challenging.
  • Sialolithiasis, or salivary stones, can cause parotitis, or parotid gland inflammation.

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