Acute suppurative parotitis associated with orbital and vascular complications: A case report

Complications arising from acute suppurative parotitis (ASP) are rare but can be morbid. We report the case of a young female who presented with facial swelling, trismus and diplopia. She was found to have ASP complicated by orbital abscess, cavernous sinus thrombosis, carotid arteritis, and cerebral infarction. Cultures from parotid abscess needle aspiration, orbitotomy and blood sampling returned fusobacterium necrophorum. After a lengthy course of antibiotics and anticoagulation, the patient recovered to near-baseline status. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of ASP with such extensive orbital and vascular complications, and highlights the importance of awareness for such events.