The Effectiveness of Thermography in Diagnosis of Frey’s Syndrome Following Parotidectomy

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2007;23(2):142-146.
Published online November 30, 2007.

Hyun Su Kim;Bum Jung Park

Frey씨 증후군의 진단에 있어서 Thermography의 유용성

김현수;박범정

Abstract

Objectives and Backgrounds ：After parotidectomy, some of patients complain gustatory sweating, facial flu-shing and discomfort in the same area. A series of these symptoms are supposed to be caused by the aberrant regeneration of the secretory parasympathetic fibers to sweat glands and blood vessels of the skin following parotidectomy. In this study, we want to compare the efficacy of thermography to the Minor’s starch-iodine test for determining the presence of Frey’s syndrome. Materials and Methods ：48 patients who underwent total or superficial parotidectomy from March 2002 to December 2004 were selected for this study. A subjective clinical questionnaire and the objective Minor’s starch-iodine test were performed to evaluate the incidence of this syndrome. Total 21 patients were confirmed as positive Frey’s syndrome and infrared thermography was performed for them. Result ：Frey’s syndrome occurred in 21 patients(43.8%). The average temperature of parotidectomy site and normal opposite area were 27.65℃ and 26.41℃ respectively. Thermography showed temperature differ-ence in 20 patient(95.2%) and the difference of temperature was statistically significant above 1.0℃(p<0.001). The severity of symptoms were related with the difference of temperature(p<0.05).
Conclusion
：Thermography is useful, non-invasive, simple and quantifying method to diagnose Frey’s syn-drome. Additionally, this geographic diagnosis is available to show the accurate area for botulinum toxin injection.

Key Words: Frey’s syndrome, Thermography, Parotidectomy