Greater Auricular Trophic Syndrome Following Parotidectomy

Trigeminal trophic syndrome causes self-injurious lesions secondary to cutaneous dysesthesia following damage of the trigeminal nerve. A similar syndrome, greater auricular trophic syndrome, can result following sacrifice of the greater auricular nerve during a parotidectomy.

A 59-year-old woman presented with ulceration and crusting of her right ear 5 months after parotidectomy. She was determined to have greater auricular trophic syndrome with prurigo nodularis-like histopathologic changes and was successfully treated with topical clobetasol, occlusive dressing, and behavioral modification.

Six similar cases have been reported. Mental health disorders were noted in 4 of these cases, and treatment focused on managing psychiatric comorbidities. This case considers treatment of a patient without a prior mental health disorder.

Greater auricular trophic syndrome is a rare complication following a parotidectomy. Occlusive dressing and behavioral modification led to subsequent improvement of the ulceration for this patient.