tonsil stones

OBJECTIVE: Tonsillotomy has emerged as an alternative for tonsillectomy in treating patients with tonsil-related afflictions. Tonsillotomy provides favourable outcomes in children, but treatment of choice in adults remains unclear. This systematic review sought to evaluate the current literature on the efficacy and adverse events of tonsillotomy compared to tonsillectomy in adults. METHODS: A Medline and Cochrane search was conducted for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing tonsillotomy to tonsillectomy in adults...

Stones made of bacterial aggregates can be found in chronically inflamed lymphoid tissue such as hypertrophied tonsils. Although it is common to find tonsilloliths in cryptic tonsils, it is rare to find stones in adenoid tissue. Here we present an interesting case of a patient who underwent adenoidectomy for adenoid hypertrophy, recurrent malaise and upper respiratory infections. Intraoperatively we found numerous bright green stones in the crypts of the adenoid tissue, reminiscent of tonsilloliths in tonsillar crypts...

BACKGROUND: Achieving hemostatic control after intracapsular adenotonsillectomy with minimal cauterization may potentially lead to improved outcomes with respect to return to normal diet, normal activity, and less use of narcotic pain medications. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized, consecutive series of children with obstructive tonsils and adenoids at a tertiary children's hospital was undertaken. RESULTS: One hundred consecutive children (52 boys/48 girls) ages 0-16 (mean=4...

OBJECTIVE: Halitosis secondary to pathology of the palatine tonsils is considered airway (type 2) halitosis in the etiologic classification. Reports differ as to the proportion of objective halitosis complaints that have tonsillar etiology, with some giving this figure as 3%. Due to their immunologic role, even healthy tonsils usually possess some subclinical inflammation. The tonsil crypt system is also the most ideal environment for anaerobic bacterial activity in the upper respiratory tract...

BACKGROUND: Chiari I malformation (CM1) is the caudal herniation of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum. It can cause several neurological signs and symptoms, or be asymptomatic. Papilledema is a potential, but unusual, manifestation of CM1. While CM1 is often asymptomatic, papilledema is less likely to be. We present the first reported case of a progressive, asymptomatic papilledema as the sole presenting sign of a CM1; CASE REPORT: A 39 year old woman presented without neurological symptoms and was found to have optic disc edema...

We introduce a novel and potentially effective approach in the treatment of tonsil stones using Coblation technology. A retrospective pilot case series was performed demonstrating the effectiveness of a technique that we call Coblation tonsil cryptolysis. This technique is unique in that it can be performed in adult patients without sedation using only local anesthesia, much like laser tonsil cryptolysis. As with laser cryptolysis, pain is significant for only a few days and most adults can resume normal diet and activity within 1 week...

Trefoil factors are essential healing initiators participating in mucosal reconstitution and tissue morphogenesis, especially on the surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract. This family has been cloned and characterized predominantly from mammals and amphibians. Avian species ingest stone and grit to help digest food, which may expose their gut to severe physical conditions. To further the understanding of the function of the TFF gene family across species, we undertook this research to clone, sequence, and characterize the spatio-temporal expression patterns of chicken TFF2 (ChTFF2) cDNA...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVES: Failure to thrive (FTT) is a serious condition of childhood, with failure to grow as expected for age and gender. Numerous potential etiologies have been suggested, including occult obstructive sleep disturbance (OSD). We determined the prevalence of OSD in an FTT population, examined correlation to tonsil size, and assessed correlation with a parental questionnaire regarding symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted...

OBJECTIVE: To study the morphology and activity of tonsilloliths, demonstrating oxygen respiration, denitrification, and acidification on exposure to sucrose. STUDY DESIGN: Tonsilloliths were extracted in atraumatic conditions during tonsillectomy from 16 adults and sent to two different laboratories for histological, bacteriological, and biofilm studies under sterile conditions. SETTING: Multicenter laboratory study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Multiple tonsilloliths from two patients examined by confocal microscopy and microelectrodes were used to measure aerobic/anaerobic respiration and acid production (dissolved oxygen, nitrous oxide, pH) when exposed to saliva following addition of sucrose and fluoride...

OBJECTIVE: Nasopharyngeal tonsilloliths are less well known to radiologists than palatine tonsil lithiases. The possibility of routinely available fine slices during CT scans of the head and neck prompted a retrospective study on the causes and radiological signs and patterns of nasopharyngeal tonsilloliths. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 515 CT scans were retrospectively re-examined looking for calcifications of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. One patient with this type of calcification underwent a cerebral MRI as part of the etiological workup of his faintness, which also provided a study of the nasopharyngeal wall...

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis and treatment of acute tonsillitis are one of the most common problems seen at an otorhinolaryngology clinic in both adult and paediatric populations. Much has been written about bacteriology of recurrent tonsillitis but it remains a controversial topic. Despite the fact that tonsillitis is so common, consensus seems to be lacking as to the main causative organism and the differences between children and adults. The tonsillar core bacteriology of 233 patients with recurrent tonsillitis who underwent tonsillectomy from January 2000 to June 2003 is presented...

Concretions in the tonsil or peritonsillar area are an infrequent entity in clinical practice. Some patients have no symptoms or they can present with fetor oris or odynophagia. The lesions are often detected incidentally during radiographic examination. This pathology can be related to lithiasis in other regions of body. The authors describe a tonsillolith accidentally detected in a patient with a lithiasis of left submandibular gland. We review published cases of tonsilloliths and analyse the causes of stone formation in peritonsillar and tonsil regions...

Tonsilloliths or tonsil stones are calcifications that form in the crypts of the palatal tonsils. These calculi are composed of calcium salts either alone or in combination with other mineral salts, and are usually of small size - though there have been occasional reports of large tonsilloliths or calculi in peritonsillar locations. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman with a one-year history of dysphagia and pharyngeal discomfort with a foreign body sensation, though the manifestations had recently intensified...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The aim of this study was to compare the snoring sounds induced during sleep nasendoscopy, and to compare them with those of natural sleep using sound frequency spectra. The snoring of 16 subjects was digitally recorded during natural and induced sleep, noting the site of vibration during sleep nasendoscopy. Patients with palatal snoring during sleep nasendoscopy had a median peak frequency at 137 Hz (118 snore samples). The peak frequency of tongue-base snoring was 1243 Hz (10 snore samples), and simultaneous palate and tongue was 190 Hz (six snore samples)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

We report the case of a 23-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with severe upper airway obstruction resulting from infection of the palatine tonsils. Manifestations of tonsillar infection and airway obstruction included hoarseness and extreme difficulty breathing, severe sore throat and inability to swallow liquids or solids. Urgent otolaryngologic consultation was obtained, and the patient was taken directly to the operating suite for nasotracheal intubation with tracheostomy standby. The patient was maintained on broad-spectrum antibiotics and was discharged after a hospital course complicated by pulmonary oedema, tracheitis and difficulty weaning from the ventilator, requiring temporary tracheostomy...

A surgical cure for adult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is an attractive alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure, but current research suggests that uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is not effective in all patients. No subgroup of these patients, who might benefit from surgery to the oropharynx, has as yet been identified. In this study we examined the results of tonsillectomy either as an isolated procedure or as part of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in seven patients, who had tonsillomegaly...

A case of large tonsillolith is described. A 26-year-old male presented with a history of recurrent throat infections. A diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess was made. A tonsillolith was spontaneously expelled on admission. A tonsillectomy was subsequently performed. The tonsillolith was yellowish-gray, measured 30 x 26 x 16 mm, and weighed 8.5 g, which was the largest reported case in Japan. Chemical analysis revealed the stone to consist of calcium phosphate.