Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Current Indication
Current Indication
Adenoidectomy
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This paper reviews current indications for otolaryngology consultation for tonsillectomy and adenoid -C/·J
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ectomy (T&A). Despite often being performed concurrently, these procedures should be considered CD
separate surgeries done for different indications. The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and a.
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Neck Surgery published tonsillectomy guidelines for children in 2019. These recommendations are of
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ten extrapolated to adults in clinical practice despite less robust literature support for this age group. •
T&A should be recommended for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Specific frequencies of tonsillitis w
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have been identified that indicate benefit from tonsillectomy in normal children; certain modifying -N,
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health factors warrant consideration of surgery with fewer infections. The guidelines include considera
tion of tonsillectomy for poorly validated indications such as halitosis, febrile seizure, dental malocclu
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sion, dysphagia, dysphonia, and psoriasis. (J Am Board Fam Med 2020;33:1025-1030.) 0
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Keywords: Adenoidectomy, Adenoids, Hypertrophy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Otolaryngology, Streptococcal •
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Infections, Tonsillectomy, Tonsils 0
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obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (OSDB) and tional benefit. One article demonstrated fewer throat
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recurrent tonsillitis. These indications have, in clini infections for 2 years after surgery. A Cochrane 0
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cal practice, been extrapolated to adults but this Review pooled this and other pediatric data and found aCD .
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requires further research. The 2019 AAOHNS 1 year of benefit. Study heterogeneity and patient -,
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guidelines for pediatric tonsillectomy find that sur numbers have limited the strength of these studies.9 3
gery may be appropriate with modifying factors such Parental satisfaction with tonsillectomy, however, is as ,-+
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as multiple antibiotic allergy, certain syndromes, 2 12 -0
high as 92%. ' Current American Academy of
recurrent peritonsillar abscess, enuresis, or poorly O tolaryngology- H ead and N eek Surgery guidelines
validated indications such as halitosis, febrile seizure,
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(AAOHNS guidelines) advise that children with 7 -tu
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stitute different procedures with different indications. lectomy while those having fewer bouts will not, 13, 14
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This article discusses indications for otolaryngology 34145 (E-mail: davidarandalhnd@gmail.co1n). T
referral from primary care physicians. on
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This article was externally peer reviewed.
Submitted 26 January 2020; revised 21 April 2020; m
accepted 26 April 2020. y
Fztnding: N o n e.
Conflict of interest: N on e. is
Corresponding aztth or: David A. Randall, MD, Retired als
otolaryngologist, 851 Collier Court #7, Marco Island, FL
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doi: 10.31 22/ Cu.rrent Indications for T onsille ctomy and 102
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periodic fever, aphthous ulcers, pharyngitis, cervical C
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sillitis, and rheumatic heart disease. Poorly validated (")
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doi: 10.31 22/ Cu.rrent Indications for T onsille ctomy and 102
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Adenoidectomy may be considered for chronic middle ear effusion and SORT: B-5
recurrent otitis media in children. •
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T onsi1lectomy may be considered for poorly validated indications such as -N,
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chronic tonsillitis, febrile seizures, muffled speech, halitosis, malocclusion, tu
tonsillar hypertrophy, cryptic tonsils, and chronic pharyngeal carriage of
group A /3 hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS).
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A f3 hemolytic strep (GABHS) carriage, febrile seizure, with recurrent tonsillitis have 1 or more PT As. , 0
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halitosis, tonsillitis, dysphonia, dysphagia, and maloc AAOHNS guidelines follow evidence-based com mon 0
clusion. There is a subst.antial role in shared decision practice listing recurrent PT A as an indication of N
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making for this last group of problems. These situa tonsillectomy.2 It is also common practice in adults z
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ologist. T here is a substantial role for shared decision tonsillectomy during an acute abscess, known as a --0 3
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making between the caregivers and the surgeon. ''hot'' or ''Quinsy'' tonsillectomy. In patients meeting (C
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sillectomy for recurrent pharyngitis. One demon 0
Review combined these data and found that surgery poor school performance, as well as behavioral issues ph
conferred 3.6 fewer cases of tonsillitis and 10.6 less such as aggression, attention deficit, hyperactivity, y
sore throat days for 6 months postoperatively. and aggression have been associated with this condi in
However, they judged this information to be of tion.2'18 Hypertrophy of the adenoid, and particu chi
lower quality due to the short period studied and larly, the tonsils are the most frequent cause.2 The ldr
statistical heterogeneity.10 It is presently a common combined volume of these lymphatic structures tends en
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and quite reasonable clinical practice to offer oto to correlate with severity. Other potential etiologies
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laryngology evaluation for tonsillectomy in adults include obesity, Down syndrome, craniofacial abnor
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meeting the pediatric criteria. malities, and neuromuscular disease.2
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Diagnosis of obstructive sleep-disordered breath e
ing (ODSB) in children is often based on history of
Recurrent Peritonsillar Abscess and examination but may also include video and 2
Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) develops between the audio taping, overnight pulse oximetry, sleep study, ye
tonsil and pharyngeal constrictors, and commonly 2 17
or validated sleep questionnaires.
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occurs in adolescents and young adul ts.15 Ten to Current or
15 % of patients.-typically under 40 years of age or AAOHNS guidelines recommend polysomnogra if
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also indicated when the primary site of a head and neck "O
adenotonsillectomy for pediatric OSDB alth ou gh 22 C
17 19 malignancy is unknown. Patients typically present - ·
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some studies are of lesser quality. ' Quality-of C/J
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life scores improved for at least 2 years following with enlarging cervical lymph nodes that suggest meta CD
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surgery. Meta-analysis also showed significant C/J
benefit with regard to sleep disturbance, physical The tonsil ipsilateral to the adenopathy is removed at 0
suffering, emotional distress, daytime problems, the time of direct laryngoscopy evaluation with its
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and caregiver concerns. Children with OSDB
should be referred for evaluation for tonsillectomy
or adenotonsillectomy.
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Upper airway obstruction in children seems linked N
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dated but potential indication for surgery in childr en.2 0
obvious obstructive anatomy (such as tonsil plasm, typically Hodgkin's lymphoma in children and an -
hyperpla sia). Positive airway pressure remains the young adults and squamous cell carcinoma in the older d
mainstay of therapy. Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy population. Squamous cell carcinoma has long been fai
are often re served supplement ODSB that lur
incompletely responds to Papanicolaou or for patients e
unable to tolerate air
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Suspicion of Malignancy ass
Unilateral tonsillar enlargement may indicate neo oci
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d with this has been con sidered an indication for
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tonsillectomy and adenoton sillectomy.25 0•
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doi: Cu.rren t Indications for Tonsillectomy and 102
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(AOM); it may also occur due to Eustachian tube of adenoidectomy is recommended for refractory pe ►3
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dysfunction. OME is most common between the diatric RS. 0
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ages of 6 months and 4years, particularly in chil Adenoid removal for hypertrophy has been per a.
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associated with hearing loss, imbalance, school or be therapy. However, this procedure does involve the
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havioral issues, otalgia, and AOM. Surgical interven risks of general anesthesia as well as potential a•
tion is indicated after 3 months of OME associated adverse effects such as velopharyngeal insufficiency --,·
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with hearing loss but may considered sooner in ''at or nasopharyngeal stenosis. The literature seems to 'O
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risk,'' children who have hearing,2 speech, cognitive, support adenoidectomy mostly in conjunction with -·C
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sensory, or behavioral conditions. Although modest treau11ent of other medical conditions such as si ::r
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addition to tympanostomy tube (TT) placement, it
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has been customary to initiate treatment of persistent
PFAPA Syndrome
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The syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous ulcers, -N,
lines recommend TI' for children under the age of 4 tu
in the absence of separate indication for adenoidec
tomy such as nasal obstruction or the rare case of
pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy (PFAPA) is a
rare but recognized entity. It typically affects chil 3
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dren under age 5 years and involves bouts of 5 days 0
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adenoiditis. For older children, adenoidectomy may 0
2 or less, approximately every 3 to 6 weeks. Steroids •
noidectomy in reducing the need for additional TT Psoriasis affects 1% to 3 % of the population and is 0
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2 8 26 felt to be T-cell mediated. · Exacerbations have -
placement and TT otorrhea. ' '9' For recurrent 0
regularly been noted with pharyngitis due to
AOM persistent after TI' placement, it is common 3 32 a.
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and appropriate to offer adenoidectomy with a sec GABHS expressing surface M protein. 0- Its pro
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posed mechanism is a cross-reaction between
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The literature largely comprises uncontrolled case
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Children may manifest cough, nasal the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score.
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Improvement also correlated32with a reduction of
circulating effector T cells. The primary care
congestion, rhinorrhea, irritability, or behavioral N
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problems; headache is less cornmon. Disease se
27 for possible tonsillectomy for patients with psoriasis '<
verity seems unrelated to adenoid size. Adenoidal refractory to medical management. 0N
harboring of bacteria as well as biofilrns and exotox cents2.7 2·8 Otolaryngology referral for
27 28
ins have been implicated etiologies. ' Meta-anal consideration
ysis has shown a 50% to 84% improvement after H
adenoidectomy in younger patients but the benefit ali
of the procedure is with a less clear role in preadoles tos
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Tonsillectomy has been considered a relative indi cc
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controlled study. ' Halitosis primarily originates
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from an oral source such as tongue coating or den tonsillectomy in adult patients with recurren t ►3
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tal disease. A necrotic upper airway malignancy rep phar yngitis: a randomized controlled 0
33 -t,u
trial. Can Med
Assoc] 2013; l 4:E331- E 336.
resents a possible but rare cause. Bad breath may a.
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also be caused by tonsillar crypt debris.25' A num 5. Epstein LJ, Kristo D, Strollo PJ, et al. Clinical guide tu
line for the evaluation, management, and long-term 3
ber of case series of tonsillectomy and tonsil crypt s
care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults. J Clin Sleep CD
ablation have reported halitosis improvement or re Med 2009;5:263- 76.
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cedures offer potential advantages of reduced on management of otitis media in preschool chil dren. "O
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convalescent time and pain and avoidance of general Int) Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016;87:154--63. - ·
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anesthesia. Unfortunately, these require repeated treat 7. Gisselsson-Solen M. Acute otitis media in children ::r
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- Current treatment and prevention. Curr Infec a.
ments; 1 report averaged 7.34 T onsillec to my, despite tu
Dis Rep 2015;17:22- 8. C/J
its postoperative morbidity, offers a I-time therapy
8. Mikals S, Brigger M. Adenoidectomy as adjuvant to 0
and may be the preference of some patients. Despite •
primary tympanostomy tube placement a systematic w
the paucity of data, tonsillectomy or crypt ablation are review and meta-an alysis. JAMA Otola ryngol N
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Head
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sonable options for socially bothersome halitosis after Neck Surg 20 14;140:95- 101.
excluding primary oral sources.2 33 34 9. Granath A. Recurrent otitis media: what are the options 3
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for treatment and prevention? Curr Otorhinolaryngol 0
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Rep 2017 ;5:93- 100. 0
Conclusions
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10. Bu.r t on M, Glasziou P, Chong L, Venekamp •
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Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy have demon R. T onsillect omy or adenotonsillectomy versus non 0
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strated benefit for a number of conditions described surgical treatment for chronic/recurrent tonsillitis. 0
Cochrane Database System Rev 2014;1:1- 62. w
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above. T he AAOHNS guidelines more strongly rec 0
ommend surgery more strongly for some medical 11. Paradise J, Bluestone C, Bachman R, et al. Efficacy of
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tonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection in severely 0
conditions (eg, pediatric OSDB) than for others. z
affected children. N Engl] Med 1984;310:674--83. 0
Satisfaction for tonsillectomy for tonsillitis remains n<
12. Barraclough J, Anari S. Tonsillectomy for recurrent 0 CD
high.2 •1 2 The role for shared decision making is more --0 3
sore throats in children: indications, outcomes, and '< CY
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apparent with less well or poorly validated issues (eg, 0, Kristo A, Alho 0. Short-term outcomes of f
halitosis) than others. Further study is warranted i
particularly in adult populations-to better under c
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stand the benefits and risk of surgical intervention for c
these conditions. Until then, primary care physicians y
may use the AAOHNS guidelines to make prudent .
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decisions regarding evaluation and treaunent options t
to pursue before otolaryngology referral. o
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To see this article online, please go to: htt p:llj abfm .or glcont entl a
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Head Neck Surg 2017;156:S88-Sl05. Surg 20 1 4;151:56 7- 74.
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