Role of medical thermography in treatment of Frey's syndrome with botulinum toxin A.
Frey syndrome classically causes gustatory sweating and facial flushing. We describe 2 cases in which medical thermography was used to investigate the symptoms. Images were taken after patients chewed a sialagogue and 2 weeks later they were given injections of botulinum toxin A. Images taken 4 weeks after treatment showed a considerable reduction in sweating and facial flushing, which was supported by the results of quality of life questionnaires completed before and after treatment. Medical thermography is much cleaner than the Minor's starch iodine test. It identifies areas of gustatory sweating, changes in temperature, and vascular changes, which potentially enable treatment to be targeted accurately.
Maxillofacial Department, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 4LP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Richardgreen81@hotmail.co.uk.
Richard James
RJ
Green
Maxillofacial Department, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 4LP, United Kingdom.
Simon
S
Endersby
Maxillofacial Department, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 4LP, United Kingdom.
John
J
Allen
Maxillofacial Department, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 4LP, United Kingdom.
James
J
Adams
D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D013546:Sweating / Q000187:drug effects; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
Botulinum toxin A; Frey's syndrome; Medical thermography; Parotidectomy