RESUMEN
L-asparaginase is an essential chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma with its unique mechanism of action. It has many toxic effects involving multiple organs. The acute parotitis associated with L-asparaginase has been rarely reported. In this report, acute parotitis developed in the 4 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients who were treated with the induction chemotherapy regimen including L-asparaginase. Mumps was excluded in 3 patients and the evidence of coexisting pancreatitis was observed in 2 patients. The parotid ultrasonography revealed diffuse enlargement in all patients. The symptoms were spontaneously resolved with no specific treatment, and in all cases there was no recurrence of the same disease with later maintenance chemotherapy including L-asparaginase. The possible mechanism of the acute parotitis is not yet clearly understood. But considering its histologic similarity with the pancreas, the depletion of L-asparagine may damage the acinar cells of parotid gland. The acute parotitis is not a well-known side effect of L-asparaginase but it needs to be promptly recognized in order to consider the discontinuation of the L-asparaginase and to exclude any viral infection requiring isolation.