Frey syndrome: Treatment with type A botulinum toxin

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 89; no. 8; pp. 1659 - 1663
• Main Authors: VON LINDERN, Jens J, NIEDERHAGEN, Bernd, BERG, Stefan, HÄGLER, Georg, REICH, Rudolf H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Wiley-Liss 15.10.2000
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - administration & dosage; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Injections, Intradermal; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Neuromuscular Agents - administration & dosage; Neuromuscular Agents - therapeutic use; Neuropharmacology; Parotid Neoplasms - complications; Parotid Neoplasms - surgery; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Sweating, Gustatory - drug therapy; Infection; Human; Toxin; Nervous system diseases; Cranial nerve disease; Botulism; Gustatory sweating; Treatment; Bacteriosis; ENT disease; Subcutaneous administration; Peripheral neuropathy
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(20001015)89:8<1659::AID-CNCR2>3.0.CO;2-M

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. 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. In the current study, seven patients with severe, symptomatic Frey syndrome after parotidectomy were treated successfully with type A botulinum toxin. 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.