Chalard François, Laurent Méryle, Barras Eugénie, Toso Seema
Pediatric Radiology, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Genève, Switzerland.
Radiol Case Rep. 2025 Jan 31;20(4):2153-2158. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2025.01.055. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Pneumoparotid is a rare cause of parotid swelling characterized by the presence of air in the Stensen's duct and/or the parotid gland. In children, it is often self-inflicted, due to psychiatric disorder or recreational habits (puffing the cheeks, blowing balloons, bruxism…). The diagnosis may be suggested by specific signs such as crepitus or foamy saliva flowing from the Stensen's duct. Here, we present 2 cases of involuntary self-inflicted pneumoparotid, diagnosed by ultrasound and CT, in a child and a teenager. Imaging is useful for diagnosis and excluding complications. Ultrasonography may be sufficient to make the diagnosis of pneumoparotid but is less sensitive than CT. CT can make the diagnosis, but also more completely explores the deep cervical spaces and the thorax, especially important in cases with respiratory symptoms. Treatment is usually conservative, in association with behavioral counselling or psychologic/psychiatric therapy, to avoid activities leading to intra oral pressure increase.
腮腺积气是腮腺肿胀的一种罕见病因，其特征是斯滕森氏导管和/或腮腺内存在气体。在儿童中，腮腺积气通常是自我造成的，原因是精神障碍或娱乐习惯（鼓起脸颊、吹气球、磨牙症等）。特定体征如捻发音或从斯滕森氏导管流出泡沫状唾液可能提示诊断。在此，我们报告2例非自愿性自我造成的腮腺积气病例，分别发生在一名儿童和一名青少年身上，通过超声和CT诊断。影像学检查有助于诊断并排除并发症。超声检查可能足以诊断腮腺积气，但不如CT敏感。CT既能做出诊断，还能更全面地探查颈深部间隙和胸部，这在有呼吸道症状的病例中尤为重要。治疗通常是保守的，同时进行行为咨询或心理/精神治疗，以避免导致口腔内压力增加的活动。
