title: Pneumoparotid: a rare cause of parotid swelling in a 7-year-old child.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumoparotid is a rare condition in which air is insufflated through Stensen's duct into the parotid gland. This causes mostly painless swelling in the parotid region.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on a 7-year old girl presenting with painless unilateral swelling of the left parotid region, present for one month. Computer tomography showed the presence of air in the left parotid gland and in both the left and right Stensen's duct. A thorough history revealed the girl was insufflating the parotid glands intentionally as a response to stress. The patient was comforted and instructed to avoid insufflation manoeuvres, which resulted in complete resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumoparotid should be considered part of a differential diagnosis in children and adolescents presenting with painless uni- or bilateral swelling of the parotid gland. Supportive and conservative treatment is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. noravanardenne@hotmail.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Ardenne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurotova
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boudewyns
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007327:Insufflation / Q000523:psychology*; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011859:Radiography; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000473:pathology