Use of botulinum toxin type A in Frey's syndrome

Abstract

Dear Editor, Frey's syndrome (FS) is characterized by sweating and erythema in the parotid gland region, related to salivary stimulus, and emerges after parotid gland traumas, such as parotidectomy, the drainage of abscesses, gunshot wounds, and shingles. 1 We present a case of a 60-year-old, white, female patient, who underwent a partial left parotidectomy 10 years ago due to a benign tumor, and who, some months after the procedure, began to suffer from sweating and erythema in the mandibular angle, pre-auricular and retro-auricular ipsilateral regions. In spite of the discomfort during meals, she never sought out treatment. As the hypothesis of FS was put forth, the Minor test was performed by applying a 2% iodine tincture in the region indicated by the patient, During follow-up, the patient presented no clinical complaints up to one year after the treatment, at which time she was submitted to the reapplication of botulinum toxin type A, but in a smaller quantity (34 U) in order to attain a more satisfactory response.