Case Report:when the Gland Speaks Through the Skin: Post- Surgical Parotidocutaneous Fistula

Background: Parotid cutaneous fistulas are uncommon clinical entities,often resulting from trauma, surgery,infection, or neoplasia.They are characterized by persistent salivary discharge through the skin,leading to significant morbidity and social distress. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 36-year-old female who presented with persistent watery discharge from a skin opening over right cheek since 10 years of age following incision drainage of abscess. Clinical and radiological evaluation confirmed a parotid cutaneous fistula. Conservative measures including anticholinergic therapy failed to resolve the fistula. For this case, Technetium 99m scintigraphy scan used as both diagnostic and therapeutic tool, and found beneficial in managing parotid cutaneous fistula. Conclusion: Parotid cutaneous fistulas, though rare, require a high index of suspicion for diagnosis and individualized treatment. Surgical intervention remains the last resort in management of chronic or refractory cases.