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- Title
Incidence of Carcinoma in Incidental Tonsil Asymmetry.
- Authors
Syms, Mark J.; Birkmire-Peters, Deborah P.; Holtel, Michael R.
- Abstract
Objective To determine the incidence of malignancy in patients with incidentally discovered unilateral tonsillar enlargement with an otherwise normal physical examination. Study Design A retrospective review of our institution's experience with unilateral tonsillar enlargement. Results During a five-year period, 570 patients underwent tonsillectomy at our institution. Of patients undergoing tonsillectomy, 49 patients (8.6%) underwent tonsillectomy with normal mucosa, no lymphadenopathy, and asymmetry of the tonsils. Two (4.8%) of the 49 patients with unilateral enlargement had the presence of malignancy. The two adult patients had B-cell lymphoma. Of all of the patients undergoing tonsillectomy, 0.35% had occult malignancy. In additional, the ability of the clinically assessed size (1+, 2+, 3+, and 4+) to predict volume was evaluated. The clinically assessed size and pathologically measured volume were significantly correlated ( R = 0.333, P < .013). In 60.5% of the patients, the clinically assessed size and the pathologically measured volume agreed with the asymmetry reported on physical examination. Conclusion A relatively high number of tonsillectomies will be performed to yield an approximately 5% positive rate of malignancy within removed tonsils that are asymmetrical with normal mucosa and no cervical adenopathy.
- Publication
Laryngoscope, 2000, Vol 110, Issue 11, p1807
- ISSN
0023-852X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1097/00005537-200011000-00006