Abstract

A 43-year old man presented with a parotid swelling caused by an intraparotid abscess, with the infection extending into the retropharyngeal space, partially obstructing the patient’s airway and leading to life-threatening complications. This is a reminder of the potentially fatal complication of airway compromise which can be overlooked when assessing parotid gland swellings.

As the patient’s primary care provider, the dentist can play a crucial role in such cases, but these patients could present in a range of environments and it is therefore also of relevance to general medical practitioners, accident and emergency staff, ENT and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Often parotid swellings are managed conservatively using parenteral means with fluids and antibiotic therapy, but in severe cases such as this, more aggressive surgical treatment is required. Early identification and intervention are crucial in this situation.