title: Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy: a retrospective and prospective analysis.
abstract: Gustatory sweating is a well-known sequela after parotid surgery. In a retrospective and prospective study of patients undergoing parotid surgery, the onset, time course, extent, and treatment modalities of Frey's syndrome were analyzed. Twenty-two percent of the patients evaluated by questionnaires and 43% of the patients followed prospectively within 1 year were found to be symptomatic. Although the Minor starch-iodine test was positive in 38% of patients at 3 months, none of these patients experienced symptoms. Up to 12 months after surgery the rate of patients who tested positive increased to 96% and the total area of sweating expanded to a mean value of 18 cm2. Whereas most of the patients are not markedly disturbed, few patients (5% to 10%) suffer from severe gustatory sweating. These patients present a therapeutic challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*