Parotid abscess secondary to brucellosis in a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract

Swelling in the salivary glands, particularly parotid glands, is observed in approximately one thirdof Sjögren's syndrome patients. However, such patients should be assessed in terms of causes suchas malignancies, infections, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and other autoimmune diseases when parot-id gland swelling is noted. It should be considered that the incidence of lymphoma increases inSjögren's syndrome. Unilateral parotid swelling, especially if accompanied by severe pain and red-ness, should be monitored for suppurative bacterial infections. Brucellosis is a systemic disease thatmay involve one or multiple organs. It can appear with different clinical manifestations and nonspe-cific symptoms. Although local abscess formations secondary to brucellosis in different organs havebeen reported, no evidence for parotid involvement has yet been reported. In this study, a case withprimary Sjögren's syndrome and parotid abscess secondary to brucellosis is presented.