In this radiology lecture, we review the ultrasound appearance of parotitis in the pediatric population!
Key teaching points include:

* Parotitis = Inflammation of the parotid glands
* Acute parotitis is usually infectious, most commonly viral
* Mumps is most common viral cause in children, often bilateral
* Bacterial parotitis can cause suppurative parotitis seen in premature infants and immunosuppressed children
* Acute parotitis on US: Enlarged, heterogeneous, hyperemic gland(s) +/- lymphadenopathy
* Since can be bilateral, comparison scanning essential
* Bacterial parotitis may be complicated by abscess
* “Pomegranate sign” may be seen in setting of acute parotitis: Uniform anechoic foci scattered throughout the gland
* Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) = Recurrent inflammatory parotitis in children of unknown etiology
* JRP is rare, but second most common cause of parotitis in childhood after mumps
* JRP often begins between age 3-6, typically resolves spontaneously after puberty
* Usually idiopathic, JRP can be presenting symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome, lymphoma, and underlying immunodeficiency
* JRP on US: May be unilateral or bilateral, multiple hypoechoic foci of salivary secretions scattered throughout the gland +/- central calcifications, color Doppler can be normal
* Additional causes of parotitis: Sialolithiasis/obstruction, autoimmune (Sjogren syndrome, chronic sclerosing sialadenitis), infectious (HIV, TB), and sarcoidosis (rare in children).

To learn more about the Samsung RS85 Prestige ultrasound system, please visit: https://www.bostonimaging.com/rs85-prestige-ultrasound-system-4
Click the YouTube Community tab or follow on social media for bonus teaching material posted throughout the week!
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/462r0F2
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Radquarters/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Radquarters/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/Radquarters
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/radiologistHQ/