A Review of the Surgical and Medical Treatment of Frey Syndrome

Abstract

Frey syndrome represents a fascinating example of how nerve regeneration can go awry. The syndrome is characterized by profuse facial sweating and flushing that occurs when salivation is stimulated. It can develop following a variety of insults but is most commonly encountered as a complication of parotidectomy. Consequently, it is mainly head and neck surgeons who see and treat this disorder; however, it is important for other clinicians to recognize what these unusual symptoms represent. Diagnosis may be based either on clinical presentation or through objective testing methods. Potential negative social and psychologic implications of this condition can be significant, and treatment ranging from topical agents to local injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) to surgical intervention should be offered to patients. In this article, we present an up-to-date review of the surgical and medical treatment of this syndrome.

Botulinumtoxin für die Behandlung sekretorischer Störungen im Kopf-Hals-Bereich

“…Allerdings sind die topischen oder systemischen Anticholinergika entweder wenig effektiv oder mit nichtakzeptablen Nebenwirkungen verbunden bzw. ist von den chirurgischen Revisionsverfahren mit der Interposition verschiedenster Materialien bei sehr unsicheren Erfolgsaussichten heutzutage abzuraten [4]. Für die zukünfti-ge Patientenzufriedenheit sollte über die unterschiedlichen Ansprechraten und Therapieverläufe aufgeklärt werden.…”

Syndrome de Frey (Syndrome auriculo-temporal)

“…Le plus souvent, il s'agit d'une complication postopératoire d'une parotidectomie [4]. Fort heureusement, elle est le plus souvent asymptomatique, révélée alors par le test de Minor [5]. Elle est sévère et invalidante chez 15 % des patients [2].…”

“…Enfin, des cas congénitaux ont également été rapportés, le plus souvent en rapport avec un traumatisme néo-natal (naissance au forceps) [6] ou d'autres anomalies congénitales. Ce syndrome peut survenir des semaines à de nombreuses années après la parotidectomie [5]. De plus, tout stimulus gustatif peut déclencher ce syndrome, inclus le fait de penser ou de parler de nourriture [1].…”

The Effects of Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System Flap on the Development of Frey’s Syndrome and Cosmetic Outcomes After Superficial Parotidectomy

“…Parotid tumors constitute 2% of all head and neck tumors: 80% of these are benign and mostly located in the superficial lobe (1)(2)(3). Therefore, the removal of superficial parotid tissue is the standard treatment.…”