Benign parotid enlargement in bulimia

Ann Intern Med. 1980 Dec;93(6):827-9. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-93-6-827.

Abstract

Bulimia is an episodic compulsive urge to overeat often followed by recurrent attempts to lose weight by self-induced vomiting. Seven young women with this eating disorder and associated benign bilateral painless parotid enlargement are described. The glandular swelling was generally intermittent, with parotid enlargement usually developing 2 to 6 days after a binge overeating episode had stopped. Several had hypokalemic alkalosis and a moderate elevation in serum amylase levels. None had clinical evidence of pancreatitis, and a parotid gland biopsy in one patient was normal. The clinician should be alerted to the association of benign parotid enlargement with this syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alkalosis / complications
  • Amylases / blood
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperphagia / complications*
  • Hyperphagia / enzymology
  • Hypertrophy
  • Parotid Gland / pathology*

Substances

  • Amylases