Ultrasound of Parotitis

In this radiology lecture, we review the ultrasound appearance of parotitis in the pediatric population! Key teaching points include: Parotitis = Inflammation of the parotid glands Acute parotitis is usually infectious, most commonly viral Mumps is most common viral cause in children, often bilateral Bacterial parotitis can cause suppurative parotitis seen in premature infants and immunosuppressed children Acute parotitis on US: Enlarged, heterogeneous, hyperemic gland(s) +/- lymphadenopathy Since can be bilateral, comparison scanning essential Bacterial parotitis may be complicated by abscess “Pomegranate sign” may be seen in setting of acute parotitis: Uniform anechoic foci scattered throughout the gland Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) = Recurrent inflammatory parotitis in children of unknown etiology JRP is rare, but second most common cause of parotitis in childhood after mumps JRP often begins between age 3-6, typically resolves spontaneously after puberty Usually idiopathic, JRP can be presenting symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome, lymphoma, and underlying immunodeficiency JRP on US: May be unilateral or bilateral, multiple hypoechoic foci of salivary secretions scattered throughout the gland +/- central calcifications, color Doppler can be normal Additional causes of parotitis: Sialolithiasis/obstruction, autoimmune (Sjogren syndrome, chronic sclerosing sialadenitis), infectious (HIV, TB), and sarcoidosis (rare in children). To learn more about the Samsung RS85 Prestige ultrasound system, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.bostonimaging.com/rs85-prestige-ultrasound-system-4⁠⁠⁠ Click the ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Community tab⁠⁠⁠ or follow on social media for bonus teaching material posted throughout the week! Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://radquarters.com/⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/radquarters/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/radquarters/⁠⁠⁠ X (Twitter): ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/radquarters⁠⁠⁠ Reddit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/user/radiologistHQ/⁠