Histopathological study of tonsillectomy specimen in a Tertiary Care Hospital

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Original Article

Author Details : SAK Adil, Sharath Kumar HK, Srijana Rao SP, Smriti Gupta

Volume : 4, Issue : 4, Year : 2017

Article Page : 560-563

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Abstract

Aim: To study the spectrum of diseases affecting the palatine tonsils and to establish the histopathological criteria for diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis.
Materials and Method: 40 palatine tonsillectomy specimen received at Department of pathology were reviewed retrospectively and were subjected to histopathological evaluation and analysed for spectrum of tonsillar diseases and histopathological criteria to establish the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis.
Results: A total of 40 cases were evaluated comprising of 26 males and 14 females. The mean age was 44 years with a range of 7 to 81years. 29 specimens were histologically diagnosed as Chronic tonsillitis and 11 specimens were diagnosed to have malignancy. Tonsillar cyst were found in 3 cases, out of which one showed colonies of Actinomycosis species. Histopathological examination showed lymphocytic infiltrate in 83%, increased plasma cells in 72%, presence of neutrophils in 69%, lymphoid hyperplasia in 69% and fibrosis in 76% of the cases. 11 malignant cases were diagnosed and all of them were reported as Squamous cell carcinoma. No cases of lymphoma were diagnosed.
Conclusion: Lymphocytic and neutrophilic infiltration in surface epithelium with or without lymphoid hyperplasia could be fairly used as the criteria for diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis. Among the tonsillar malignancies, Squamous cell carcinoma is the commonest and more common among the adult males with mean age of 60years.
Though incidence of malignancy is very rare in children, routine pathological analysis of tonsillectomy specimens is performed so as not to miss an unexpected pathology especially malignancy.

Keywords: Chronic tonsillitis, Lymphoid hyperplasia, Diagnosis, Tonsillar malignancy, Squamous cell carcinoma

How to cite : Adil S, Sharath Kumar Hk, Srijana Rao Sp, Gupta S, Histopathological study of tonsillectomy specimen in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Indian J Pathol Oncol 2017;4(4):560-563

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