title: Facial paralysis due to an occult parotid abscess.
abstract: Facial paralysis associated with benign diseases of the parotid gland is very rare. It has been reported in approximately 16 cases of acute suppurative parotitis or parotid abscess. We presented a 45-year-old woman who developed facial paralysis secondary to an occult parotid abscess. Initially, there was no facial paralysis and the signs and symptoms were suggestive of acute parotitis, for which medical treatment was initiated. Three days later, left-sided facial palsy of HB (House-Brackmann) grade 5 developed. Ultrasonography revealed a pretragal, hypoechoic mass, 10x8 mm in size, causing inflammation in the surrounding tissue. Fine needle aspiration biopsy obtained from the mass revealed polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. No malignant cells were observed. The lesion was diagnosed as an occult parotid abscess. After a week, the mass disappeared and facial paralysis improved to HB grade 4. At the end of the first month, facial paralysis improved to HB grade 1. At three months, facial nerve function was nearly normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Capa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. ksorhan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kadir Serkan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Orhan
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocasoy-Orhan
authors.forename: Kubilay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yenigül
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010309:Parotitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography