Guidelines for Complications of Cancer Treatment Vol VIII Part B

Frey’s SyndromeFrey’s syndrome or auriculotemporal syndrome ischaracterized by profuse sweating, frequently accompaniedby flushing of the facial skin during meals.Incidence1. Varies according to the diligence with which thediagnosis is sought & the time elapsed afterparotidectomy.2. 10% pts will experience definite symptoms.3. If asked, 30 – 40% will admit to gustatory sweating.4. Minors test (see below) – 95% will show some evidenceof gustatory sweating.EtiologyIt occurs due to aberrant regeneration of the sectionedparasympathetic nerve fibers with the sectioned cutaneoussympathetic fibers. For this to occur, the sympathetic fibersmust also be sectioned, a common occurrence afterparotidectomy and parotid trauma. The resulting aberrantregeneration and parasympathetic innervations of the sweatglands and vessels results in local vasodilatation (gustatory232