Frey’s Syndrome

Frey’s syndrome (gustatory sweating) represents aberrant reinnervation following injury of the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN). It is characterized clinically by facial warmth, sweating and flushing of the lateral aspect of the face and upper neck, usually around the parotid region, during meals with no direct relation with chewing. Frey’s syndrome most commonly arises as a complication of parotidectomy, but can also be associated with submandibular gland surgery, repair of mandibular fractures, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury, neck lymph node (LN) dissection, infection, and trauma to the parotid region. This chapter discusses the epidemiology, relevant anatomy, physiology and histopathology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, evaluation, prevention, treatment, prognosis, and complications of Frey’s syndrome.