Swelling of the salivary glands, also known as iodide or iodine mumps, is a rare adverse reaction to administration of iodine, a component steadily present in current contrast media and in a variety of medications. We report and compare with published literature the clinical and sonographic findings in a case of iodide mumps that developed after the intravenous administration of iodine-based contrast media for a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan. The exact pathogenesis is unknown to date: based on sonographic appearance, we support the hypothesis of an acute inflammatory condition elicited by iodine accumulation in the salivary glands. The emergency care practitioner needs to be confident with the clinical symptoms as well as the sonographic findings and therapeutic options to successfully manage this condition.


Swelling of the salivary glands, also known as iodide or iodine mumps, is a rare adverse reaction to administration of iodine, a component steadily present in current contrast media and in a variety of medications. We report and compare with published literature the clinical and sonographic findings in a case of iodide mumps that developed after the intravenous administration of iodine-based contrast media for a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan. The exact pathogenesis is unknown to date: based on sonographic appearance, we support the hypothesis of an acute inflammatory condition elicited by iodine accumulation in the salivary glands. The emergency care practitioner needs to be confident with the clinical symptoms as well as the sonographic findings and therapeutic options to successfully manage this condition.