Vol.101 No.8 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 101 No. 8 August 2008
Case Report: Toxoplasmic Intraparotid
Lymphadenitis
Takayuki Kawabata, Hidekazu Naono, Keiji Matsuda,
Hirokazu Kawano and Tetsuya Tono
(Miyazaki University)
Koji Torihara
(Miyazaki Prefectural Hospital of Miyazaki)
Toxoplasmosis usually manifests as a cervicofacial lymphadenopathy in adults, and its manifestation as a parotid mass is very rare. In this article, we present the case of a 48-year-old with acquired intraglandular parotid toxoplasmosis which clinically mimicked a parotid gland tumor. We performed superficial parotidectomy, suspecting a malignant tumor. However, the postoperative histopathology, indicated toxoplasmic lymphadenitis. Serological tests revealed high levels of both IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma in the serum. We concluded that the disease was due to active infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Through the postoperative administration of specific antibiotic agents, the patient remained symptomatically well without signs of systemic or local toxoplasmosis. The infection was believed to have been transmitted via the patient's pet rabbit.
Key words :Toxoplasma, lymphadenitis, parotid, rabbit