Differences in Clinical and Histopathologic Features Between Chronic Adenotonsillitis and Chronic Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the clinical and histopathological differences between chronic adenotonsillitis and chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 286 patients (147 males, 139 females; mean age 16.6 years; range 3 to 45 years) with chronic adenotonsillitis and 197 patients (98 males, 99 females; mean age 9.5 years; range 2 to 18 years) with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Clinical and histopathological findings were compared. RESULTS: The mean age was significantly higher (p<0.001) and acute attacks of fever, dysphagia, and sore throat were more frequent in chronic adenotonsillitis. Patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy more commonly manifested snoring, mouth breathing, and dispnea. Physical examination showed hyperemia of the anterior plica in 93% and 15% in chronic adenotonsillitis and adenotonsillar hypertrophy, respectively. Histopathologically, the former was more commonly associated with severe lymphocyte infiltration to surface epithelium, surface epithelial defects, plasma cells, atrophy, and fibrosis. The sole outweighing difference in favor of chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy was increased germinal centers. CONCLUSION: Clinical and histopathologic findings suggest that chronic adenotonsillitis and chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy may be diverse diseases requiring different approaches in treatment.