Pre-operative Occurrence of First Bite Syndrome in Two Cases of Parotid Gland Tumour

  • Khawaja Shehryar Nasir Department of Internal Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3213-9587
  • Raza Hussain Department of Surgical Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Arif Jamshed Department of Clinical Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
Keywords: Cancer pain, first bite syndrome, neuralgia, parotid neoplasms

Abstract

Introduction: First bite syndrome (FBS) is a gustatory-evoked painful condition that is characterized by the onset of severe electric-shock like pain in the periauricular region. In the majority of patients, FBS develops post-operatively. However, in rare instances it may present in a preoperative setting. Case description: Two cases of FBS developing preoperatively secondary to parotid gland tumour are presented.  The patients, 54 and 30 years old, presented with complaints of electric-shock like pain localized over the periauricular region. In each case the pain was triggered following first bite of the meal. In both cases, pain lasted for a few seconds and with subsequent bites subsided only to return at the beginning of next meal. Practical implications: Preoperative occurrence of FBS in the absence of a history of trauma or surgery should necessitate a thorough investigation and follow up for an underlying salivary gland tumour.

Published
2019-12-24
How to Cite
1.
Nasir KS, Hussain R, Jamshed A. Pre-operative Occurrence of First Bite Syndrome in Two Cases of Parotid Gland Tumour. J Cancer Allied Spec [Internet]. 2019Dec.24 [cited 2024Mar.18];6(1). Available from: https://journals.sfu.ca/jcas/index.php/jcas/article/view/331