Frey syndrome - Treatment with type A botulinum toxin

BACKGROUND. Frey syndrome was first described by Baillarger in 1853. Frey p rovided a detailed analysis and description as "auriculotemporal syndrome" in 1923. According to the literature, even the most recent therapeutic meas ures 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 tr eatment is desirable that can suppress the symptoms of Frey syndrome and ca n offer a good success rate, minimum invasiveness, and few side effects. METHODS. The experience of the authors and data from the literature confirm ed the efficacy of type A botulinum toxin treatment for patients with Frey syndrome up to a maximum observation period of 3 years. RESULTS. In the current study, seven patients with severe, symptomatic Frey syndrome after parotidectomy were treated successfully with type A botulin um toxin. CONCLUSIONS. The method of local, intracutaneous treatment with type A botu linum toxin for patients withe Frey syndrome is effective, virtually side-e ffect free, and minimally invasive. Cancer 2000;89:1659-63. (C) 2000 Americ an Cancer Society.