title: [Infected parotid cyst as a cause of facial palsy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory processes are a rare cause of peripheral facial palsy. In most cases even massive infection does not lead to a loss of facial nerve function. In the literature, only 8 cases of facial paralysis associated with parotid cyst have been described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present a case of facial palsy caused by an inflamed cyst of the parotid gland. The patient was operated on with the diagnosis malignant parotid tumor. The pathological report showed a squamous epithelial cyst, massive lymphocytic infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a rule the combination parotid gland lesion and facial palsy is a sign of malignancy, clinicians should be aware that, on rare occasions, facial nerve dysfunction may result from benign parotid gland disease.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Würzburg.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marioni
authors.forename: S Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwager
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors