TITLE:
Incidence of Malignancy in Asymmetrical Tonsillar Enlargement
AUTHORS:
Jalal Al Marzooq, Jawad Abdulla, Mahmood Al Sindi
KEYWORDS:
Tonsil, Asymmetry, Enlargement, Malignancy, Tonsillectomy
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
20,
2017
ABSTRACT: Objective: To determine the incidence of carcinoma in patients with asymmetrical tonsillar enlargement. Study Design: A clinical retrospective case series based on medical records of our medical complex. Results: During a two-year period, 990 patients underwent tonsillectomy at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). 59 (5.9%) of those patients had asymmetrical enlargement of their tonsils, three of whom had suspicious clinical findings at presentation. The latter were found to have tonsillar malignancy on histopathological testing. Malignancy was excluded in all other specimen. Conclusions: Since the incidence of malignancy in asymmetrical tonsils is negligible in the absence of other associated risk factors, watchful waiting may be appropriate prior to any surgical intervention. Diagnostic tonsillectomy is indicated in patients with asymmetrical tonsillar enlargement with associated suspicious clinical findings, including cervical lymphadenopathy and rapid tonsillar enlargement.