First-bite syndrome: a review of 29 patients with parapharyngeal space tumor.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to clarify the etiology of first-bite syndrome.


METHODS
A total of 29 consecutive patients treated with a surgical resection for parapharyngeal space tumor between April 1999 and April 2005 were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Nine cases of first-bite syndrome were developed. Eight of those patients had undergone surgical ablation of the cervical sympathetic chain and/or external carotid artery. In two patients who underwent ablation of the sympathetic chain but in whom first-bite syndrome did not develop, the superior cervical ganglion was probably preserved.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings strongly indicate that loss of sympathetic innervation to the parotid gland from the superior cervical ganglion causes first-bite syndrome. They also suggest that some residual or autonomous activity of the superior cervical ganglion could prevent development of first-bite syndrome even if the lower sympathetic trunk was ablated.
Kawashima
Yoshiyuki
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan. kawashima.oto@tmd.ac.jp
Sumi
Takuro
T
Sugimoto
Taro
T
Kishimoto
Seiji
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013577:Syndrome