Medical Questions » Syndrome Questions » Question No. 976
| Question: | I have had an operation on the salivary gland under my ear for a tumour, and I have been left with Frey syndrome. If I had known this would happen, I would not have had the operation. |
| Answer: | Mixed tumours of the parotid gland, the main gland behind the jaw and under the ear that produces saliva for the mouth, are very sinister growths. Although usually not cancerous initially, they may grow to a very large size to cause disfigurement and pain, and may in time turn malignant.
Once one of these tumours is discovered, removal at the earliest opportunity is sensible. Unfortunately, the facial nerve, which controls the muscles of the face and other nerve fibres (sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves) that control blood vessels and sweat glands, runs through the centre of the gland, and an enlarging tumour may engulf more branches of the nerves, making it very difficult for a surgeon to avoid all the tiny filaments when the tumour is removed.
If the nerve or some of its branches are cut, you will lose the ability to move the facial muscles on one side supplied by those nerves, including those that control the lips.
Frey syndrome occurs when the facial and other nerves to the face are damaged by an infection of, or surgery to, the parotid gland. It results in sweating and flushing of the face, and drooling when eating.
It is very unfortunate that you have developed this syndrome as a complication of the surgery, but without the surgery, your life could be even more miserable with a tennis ball sized mass on the side of your face, and an early death from malignant change.
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