Pneumoparotid with imaging findings: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Pneumoparotid is a rare disease associated with retrograde airflow into the ductal system. There is no established treatment for this disease, which has no known complications. Mouth puffing and playing wind instruments are known to be the causes of this disease.

CASE SUMMARY

We managed a case, in which pneumoparotid suddenly recurred 4 months after surgery for purulent parotiditis. The patient did not report any obvious etiological factors, such as mouth puffing or playing a wind instrument. We reviewed 128 articles (from 1941 to 2023) that reported on a total of 166 patients with pneumoparotid, including the patient from the present case report, with imaging findings. This is the first reported case of pneumoparotid following surgery for purulent parotitis. The etiology in our case was classified as idiopathic.

CONCLUSION

Imaging findings could be sufficient for accurate pneumoparotid diagnoses and the exclusion of complications; computed tomography could be useful.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Imaging findings; Parotid gland; Pneumoparotid; Pneumoparotitis; Case report

Core Tip: Pneumoparotid is a rare disease linked to retrograde airflow into the parotid ductal system, often caused by mouth puffing or playing wind instruments. No established treatment exists, and it typically has no complications. We present a unique case of pneumoparotid recurrence 4 months after surgery for purulent parotitis without typical etiological factors. Our review of 128 articles (1941-2023), involving 166 patients, identified this as the first reported case post-parotitis surgery, classified as idiopathic. Imaging, especially computed tomography, proves crucial for accurate diagnosis and excluding complications.