Article
Parotid abscess – diagnosis and management
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Published: | July 23, 2012 |
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Introduction: 23 patients who had been treated because of a parotid abscess between January 2001 and December 2010 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery BwKrhs Ulm were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: We treated 12 males and 11 females with a median age at presentation of 51±17 years. The time period ranged from the first afflictions to the first visit in our clinic took 4±4 days. Diabetes mellitus is a significant comorbid factor, three patients (13%) being diabetics. Two patients (8.7%) suffered from chronic parotitis.
One patient presented a facial nerve palsy and one a sialolithiasis in conjunction with multiple abscesses. In all patients we did a sonography, a contrast CT- and a MRT scan. In 18 (78.3%) cases the abscess was superficial, in 5 (11.7%) cases the abscess was located very deeb. 16 (69.6%) patients were initial treated with antibiotics.
We did different surgical treatments. In 18 (78.3%) cases we did a disruption, in 5 (11.7%) a puncture. With this treatment we achieve a restutio ad integrum in 21 cases. In two cases a Parotidectomy was necessary.
Discussion: A parotid abscess often occurs in middle aged persons. Comorbid factors are rare described. Sometimes there are deep and multiple formations. Therefore we recommend a CT- or MRT Scan. In addition to an antibiotic therapy in most cases a disruption or a puncture is sufficiently.