Gustatory Sweating
Sweating and flushing of the facial skin in the parotid region during eating, caused by aberrant reinnervation of autonomic nerve fibres following parotid surgery or trauma.
Full Definition
Gustatory sweating, eponymously known as Frey syndrome or auriculotemporal nerve syndrome, occurs when postganglionic parasympathetic fibres originally supplying the parotid gland regenerate along sympathetic pathways to sweat glands and cutaneous blood vessels. The result is that stimuli normally triggering salivation—such as chewing or the sight of food—instead provoke unilateral facial sweating. The condition is a well-recognised complication of parotidectomy. Editors should know the eponym 'Frey syndrome' (capitalised, no possessive apostrophe in most current style guides) and the preferred anatomical descriptor 'auriculotemporal nerve syndrome'. The Minor starch-iodine test is the standard diagnostic method and should be spelt with a capital M as an eponymous test.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'Frey syndrome' (capital F, no apostrophe) when citing the eponym. 'Auriculotemporal nerve syndrome' is the preferred anatomical term in non-eponymous style guides.
In Context
- "Gustatory sweating developed six months after superficial parotidectomy and was confirmed by the Minor starch-iodine test." — Surgical complication case report
- "The text alternated between 'Frey syndrome' and 'gustatory sweating'; the editor standardised to one term throughout." — Editorial consistency note