1Post Graduate, Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai - 600044, India
Email: muthumanickam_ram@srmuniv.edu.in
2Head of Department, Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai - 600044, India
Email: dr.gmurugan@yahoo.com
3Associate Professor, Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai - 600044, India
Email: ashgilli@gmail.com
Corresponding Author: Dr. Ashwin Kumar A
Associate Professor, Department of Radio-Diagnosis
Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai - 600044, India
Email: ashgilli@gmail.com
Introduction: The impaction of foreign bodies within the parotid gland is an exceptionally rare clinical occurrence. Among these, fish bones are uncommon and can lead to significant complications such as abscess formation, sialadenitis, and potential facial nerve injury if not managed appropriately. Their presentation can be insidious, often mimicking other common parotid pathologies.
Case Presentation: We present the case of a patient who complained of a one-week history of a painful swelling in the left pre-auricular region, associated with throat pain and odynophagia. The patient recalled a prior incident of a fish bone becoming lodged in the oropharynx a week before the onset of symptoms. Initial ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneous collection suggestive of an abscess. Subsequent computed tomography (CT) scan precisely localized a linear, radio-opaque foreign body within the parotid gland, surrounded by an abscess cavity. The patient underwent successful incision and drainage under general anesthesia, during which a 2.5 cm fish bone was retrieved from the abscess. The postoperative course was uneventful, with complete resolution of symptoms and no facial nerve dysfunction.
Conclusion: This case underscores that migratory foreign bodies, such as fish bones, are a rare but important differential diagnosis for acute parotid swellings. A high index of suspicion, coupled with a detailed history and targeted imaging, preferably CT is crucial for diagnosis. Timely surgical intervention via incision, drainage, and exploration is a minimally invasive and highly effective treatment that preserves gland function and prevents serious complications. This approach should be favored over more radical procedures like formal parotidectomy in such scenarios.
Keywords: Parotid abscess, Foreign body, Fish bone, Migratory foreign body, Sialadenitis, Computed tomography, Incision and drainage.
How to cite this article: Manickam M, Murugan G, Kumar AA. A Rare Case of a Migratory Fish Bone Inducing a Parotid Gland Abscess: A Case Report and Literature Review. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(7s): 716-723; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.7s.76
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None