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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Frey syndrome before Frey: the correct history.

OBJECTIVE: To review the chronology of publications on gustatory sweating before Frey's landmark publication. METHODS: Reports on Frey syndrome were reviewed, and all references given to publications before 1950 were obtained and examined. References to prior publications in the obtained articles were similarly reviewed. The cases described in these publications were analyzed for their compatibility with the accepted clinical symptoms of Frey syndrome. RESULTS: Despite numerous references, the case described by Duphenix in 1757 is most probably a traumatic parotid fistula. The first reported case of Frey syndrome should be attributed to Baillarger in 1853.

Eponyms↗

A review of the surgical and medical treatment of Frey syndrome.

Frey syndrome represents a fascinating example of how nerve regeneration can go awry. The syndrome is characterized by profuse facial sweating and flushing that occurs when salivation is stimulated. It can develop following a variety of insults but is most commonly encountered as a complication of parotidectomy. Consequently, it is mainly head and neck surgeons who see and treat this disorder; however, it is important for other clinicians to recognize what these unusual symptoms represent. Diagnosis may be based either on clinical presentation or through objective testing methods. Potential negative social and psychologic implications of this condition can be significant, and treatment ranging from topical agents to local injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) to surgical intervention should be offered to patients. In this article, we present an up-to-date review of the surgical and medical treatment of this syndrome.

Drug Therapy↗

Auriculotemporal syndrome (Frey's syndrome) presenting as tic douloureux. Report of two cases.

Two cases of auriculotemporal nerve syndrome (Frey's syndrome) presenting as trigeminal tic douloureux are reported. This condition, characterized by gustatory sweating and facial hyperemia, is occasionally associated with pain, which is usually described as aching or burning, and long-lasting. In these two cases, however, a tantalizing gustatory pain occurred in excruciating brief paroxysms. The pathophysiology of the syndrome, with particular reference to pain, and possible treatment modalities are discussed.

Aged↗

Localized facial flushing in infancy. Auriculotemporal nerve (Frey) syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patients with auriculotemporal nerve syndrome (Frey syndrome) have facial flushing, sweating, or both localized to the distribution of the auriculotemporal nerve that occurs in response to gustatory stimuli. In adults, the syndrome usually results from surgical injury or trauma to the parotid gland. The condition is rare in infants, but usually manifests during infancy with the introduction of solid food, thus leading to the misdiagnosis of food allergy by physicians unfamiliar with the syndrome. OBSERVATIONS: We describe 8 children with auriculotemporal nerve syndrome who manifested with flushing only. The reaction was erroneously attributed to food allergy in most cases. Six of the 8 patients were delivered with forceps assistance. The remaining 2 patients, with disease onset during the first 3 months of life, had bilateral involvement without known trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Auriculotemporal nerve syndrome may manifest during infancy as flushing with eating food. In contrast to the syndrome in adults, gustatory sweating is rarely associated. The known use of forceps to assist in the delivery of at least 14 of the 28 previously reported pediatric cases and in 6 of our 8 patients suggests that trauma to the parotid region may be responsible for the condition in most infants, as it is in adults. Auriculotemporal nerve syndrome in infancy should be recognized as a benign condition that often resolves spontaneously. Treatment is ineffective and unnecessary.

Birth Injuries↗

Sternocleidomastoid muscle flap preventing Frey syndrome following parotidectomy.

Frey syndrome is one of the potential sequelae of parotidectomy. Various medical and surgical treatments have been used in an attempt to avoid this embarrassing condition. Recently, interposing barriers between the overlying skin flap and the parotid bed, such as the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) flap, have been used to prevent this condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of using this flap on Frey syndrome. A series of 138 patients who underwent subtotal or total parotidectomy from January 1995 to December 2001 were divided into two groups. One group had an SCM flap reconstruction (n = 24), and the other group did not (n = 19). A subjective clinical questionnaire and the objective Minor's starch iodine test were used to evaluate the incidence of this syndrome. The postoperative period varied from 12 to 90 months. The frequency exact test of Fisher and the nonparametric test of Mann-Whitney were applied. The association with the absence of sweating and the presence of the SCM flap was significant (p = 0.0002). There was no association with flushing or pain and the flap. There was a significant association with the starch iodine test and the presence of the flap (p = 0.0016). The only significant association of the epidemiologic and clinical characterization of the patients with a negative or positive Minor's test was between sweating and a positive Minor's test (p = 0.0001). The only significant aspect in the diagnosis of Frey syndrome is gustatory sweating. There is a significant association with a negative Minor's test and the presence of the SCM flap and with sweating and a positive Minor's test. The SCM flap is an efficient method for preventing Frey syndrome following parotidectomy.

Aged↗

Frey syndrome--delayed clinical onset: a case report.

Frey syndrome is a disorder characterized by unilateral sweating and flushing of the facial skin in the area of the parotid gland occurring during meals. The syndrome is a sequela of parotidectomy and may follow other surgical, traumatic, and inflammatory injuries of the parotid and submandibular glands and the cervical and upper thoracic portions of the sympathetic trunk. Pathogenesis is based on regeneration of sectioned parasympathetic fibers with inappropriate innervation of cutaneous sweat glands. Various studies have reported the clinical incidence of Frey syndrome after parotidectomy to be as high as 53%. The reported incidence of Frey syndrome in patients not undergoing intraoperative preventive measures is 96% in patients evaluated by means of an iodine-starch test 12 months postoperatively. We present a case in which a patient developed symptoms of Frey syndrome 8(1/2) years after superficial parotidectomy. Although most patients with Frey syndrome have only mild-to-moderate symptoms (only 6% of patients experience severe symptoms), the potential for appearance of Frey syndrome years after the parotidectomy must be discussed with the patient before surgery in the parotid region.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Prevention of Frey syndrome during parotidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of Frey syndrome (auriculotemporal nerve syndrome) after parotidectomy with and without placement of a subcutaneous implant and to examine the relationship between different implants and postoperative wound complications (hematoma, seroma, salivary fistula). DESIGN: A prospective nonrandomized controlled trial. SETTING: A primary care and referral university hospital center. PATIENTS: All patients scheduled for parotidectomy from April 1994 through August 1998 were eligible. Seventy patients were enrolled (2 refused). All 70 patients were evaluated for wound complications. Sixty patients with a follow-up of more than 1 year were evaluated for Frey syndrome. INTERVENTION: The choice of implant was left to the individual surgeon: 24 patients had no implant; 7, lyophilized dura implant; 7, polyglactin 910-polydioxanone (Ethisorb) implant; and 32, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) implant. OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of Frey syndrome was evaluated (1) subjectively by history (clinical Frey syndrome) and (2) objectively by using 2 newly developed tests. Both hemifaces were tested, with the normal side being used as a control. RESULTS: Clinical Frey syndrome was present in 12 patients: 11 without implants (11/24 [53%]) and 1 with an implant (1/46 [2%]) (P<.001). Objective tests were positive in 24 patients: 16 (76%) of 21 without implants and 8 (20%) of 39 with implants (P<.001). In the implanted patients, the objective tests were positive in 71% (5/7) of those with lyophilized dura, 14% (1/7) of those with Ethisorb, and 8% (2/29) of those with e-PTFE implants (P<.001). Wound complications included hematoma in 5 patients (7%), seroma in 4 patients (6%), and salivary fistula in 15 (21%). Salivary fistula occurred more frequently with Ethisorb (57%) and e-PTFE (25%) implants (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: In patients without an implant, the incidence of Frey syndrome is 50% for subjective and 80% for objective evaluation. In patients with an implant, these incidences are 3% and 10%, respectively. Some implants are associated with a higher incidence of salivary fistula.

Adolescent↗

A reevaluation of the Frey syndrome following parotid surgery.

The Frey syndrome, or gustatory sweating, is an accepted complication of parotid gland surgery that may occur with varying degrees of secerity. Since misdirection of auriculotemporal secretomotor nerve fibers has been found to play an important role in the development of the syndrome, a study was initiated to attempt mechanical interference with the regenerating fibers of the nerve. A superiorly based muscle flap from the sternocleidomastoid muscle was developed to cover the operative wound after either partial or complete parotidectomy. Results in 35 patients with such a muscle flap were compared with those in 35 control patients for the presence of absence of the Frey syndrome; the muscle flap was shown to be ineffective in preventing occurrence of gustatory sweating. Moreover, gustatory sweating to varying degrees was present in 34 patients with the muscle flap and in 33 control patients. Also, only 23 of the 70 patients had subjective complaints related to the syndrome, none of whom was incapacitated ore required additional measures for care.

Humans↗

Frey syndrome: treatment with type A botulinum toxin.

BACKGROUND: Frey syndrome was first described by Baillarger in 1853. Frey provided a detailed analysis and description as "auriculotemporal syndrome" in 1923. According to the literature, even the most recent therapeutic measures described for the treatment of patients with Frey syndrome have little chance of success and a high incidence of side effects. Thus, a type of treatment is desirable that can suppress the symptoms of Frey syndrome and can offer a good success rate, minimum invasiveness, and few side effects. METHODS: The experience of the authors and data from the literature confirmed the efficacy of type A botulinum toxin treatment for patients with Frey syndrome up to a maximum observation period of 3 years. RESULTS: In the current study, seven patients with severe, symptomatic Frey syndrome after parotidectomy were treated successfully with type A botulinum toxin. CONCLUSIONS: The method of local, intracutaneous treatment with type A botulinum toxin for patients with Frey syndrome is effective, virtually side-effect free, and minimally invasive.

Adult↗

[Prospective cohort study on prevention of Frey syndrome in parotid surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevention of Frey syndrome after parotidectomy. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 100 patients with parotid cancer who received parotid surgery was underwent in our hospital from 2001 to 2004. These patients were assigned to two groups, study group (50 cases) and control group (50 cases). The patients in the study group received parotidectomy and intraoperative placement of collagen pieces within the parotid bed, between the skin flap and the facial nerve. The patients in the control group received a conventional parotidectomy and no collagen pieces was implanted. All of the patients were followed-up and were evaluated for Frey syndrome with identical questionnaires. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the incidence rate of Frey syndrome was significantly decreased in the study group (20% vs 60%, chi(2) = 15.04, P < 0.001). Postoperative incidence of facial contour apparent deformity was 80% (40/50) in control group and 44% (22/50) in study group (chi(2) = 12.26, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of collagen pieces as an interposition fill barrier improves parotidectomy outcome by reducing the incidence of Frey syndrome, and it improves cosmetic results concurrently.

Adolescent↗