Hostname: page-component-6dbcb7884d-xl9kw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-14T06:24:15.808Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Facial nerve palsy caused by parotid gland abscess

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2011

R N Kristensen  and
C H Hahn
R N Kristensen*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
C H Hahn
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Rasmus N Kristensen, Randersgade 33, 5th, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark E-mail: rasmusnkristensen@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

We present the first report of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes parotid abscesses complicated by facial nerve palsy. Facial nerve palsy secondary to parotid gland abscess is rare, with only eight previously reported cases.

Method:

Case reports and literature review concerning parotid abscess and facial nerve palsy presentation and management.

Case reports:

Within two months, two female patients presented with parotid gland abscess complicated by unilateral facial paralysis. Both were treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgery. In the first case, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was cultivated, in the other, Propionibacterium acnes was found. In the first case, facial nerve function did not recover.

Conclusion:

Parotid gland abscess can lead to facial paralysis. Both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes may be involved. Ultrasonography or computed tomography is recommended to exclude a parotid abscess in patients presenting with suppurative parotitis.

Keywords

AbscessFacial NerveFacial Paralysis, PeripheralMethicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus AureusGland, ParotidPropionibacterium Acnes
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 3 , March 2012 , pp. 322 - 324
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Marioni, G, Rinaldi, R, de Filippis, C, Gaio, E, Staffieri, A. Candidal abscess of the parotid gland associated with facial nerve paralysis. Acta Otolaryngol 2003;123:661–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Noorizan, Y, Chew, YK, Khir, A, Brito-Mutunayagam, S. Parotid abscess: an unusual cause of facial nerve palsy. Med J Malaysia 2009;64:172–3Google Scholar
3Tan, VES, Goh, BS. Parotid abscess: a five-year review – clinical presentation, diagnosis and management. J Laryngol Otol 2007;121:872–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Smith, DR, Hartig, GK. Complete facial paralysis as a result of parotid abscess. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;117:114–17CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Park, HJ, Na, S, Park, SY, Moon, SM, Cho, O, Park, K et al. Clinical significance of Propionibacterium acnes recovered from blood cultures: analysis of 524 episodes. J Clin Microbiol 2011;49:1598–601CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Brook, I, Frazier, EH. Microbiology of cervical lymphadenitis in adults. Acta Otolaryngol 1998;1118:443–6Google Scholar