Palatine Tonsil Asymmetry - Results from the Otorhinolaryngology Department of a Tertiary Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.787Keywords:
tonsillar asymmetry, malignancy, tonsillectomy, oropharyngeal cancerAbstract
OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the incidence of malignancy in patients with tonsillar asymmetry who underwent tonsillectomy at our hospital. Characterize the clinical profile of patients with malignant disease.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:The clinical records of 1268 patients undergoing tonsillectomy between January 2012 and January 2019 inclusive were retrospectively analyzed. We selected the cases in which the anatomopathological exam of the removed tonsils was requested because of tonsillar asymmetry. A total of 48 patients were included in the study.
RESULTS:The incidence of malignancy was 8.3% and the most frequent malignancy was squamous cell carcinoma (n = 2). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the tonsillar asymmetry quantified by the Brosdky classification and the weight difference between the tonsils in the histological evaluation (p = 0.009). There were no differences in tonsil weight between groups with and without Actynomices colonization (p = 0.631). A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the perceived tonsillar asymmetry on the objective examination and the histological result of malignancy (p = 0.033).
CONCLUSIONS:All patients diagnosed with malignant disease underwent surgery only due to the presence of tonsillar asymmetry. Thus, although tonsillar asymmetry is more often associated with benign changes, a statistically significant correlation was found between asymmetry and malignant disease.
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