THE MICROSCOPIC HISTOPATHOLOGIC EXAMINATION IN ROUTINE PEDIATRIC ADENOTONSILLECTOMY
1GATA, KBB AD, Ankara, Türkiye2GATA, KBB AD, Ankara, Türkiye
3GATA, PATOLOJİ AD, Ankara, Türkiye Objective : The aim of the study is to discuss the necessity of microscopic histopathologic examination in pediatric patients who underwent routine adenotonsillectomy.
Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed in 506 pediatric patients who underwent adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy because of chronic/recurrent infection and/or obstructive reasons. Histopathologic findings were recorded. Findings were discussed in the light of the literature.
Results: 214 of the patients (42.3%) underwent adenoidectomy only, 45 of them (8.9%) underwent tonsillectomy only and 247 of them (48.8%) underwent adenotonsillectomy. The most common histopathologic finding was lymphoid hyperplasia and chronic inflammation (in 83.2% of tonsillectomy specimens and in 86% of adenoidectomy specimens).There were neither malignancies nor unexpected findings in the samples.
Conclusions: Unexpected findings in routine pediatric adenotonsillectomies are very low. The microscopic examination should be done when any of the risk factors for malignancy is present (apparent tonsil asymmetry, palpable firmness or visible lesion of tonsil, existence of neck mass, unexplained weight loss, unilateral rapid tonsillar growth, immune-suppression and organ transplantation history, night sweat, weight loss, etc) . In pediatric patients, macroscopic examination may be an alternative to microscopic examination in order to decrease the cost and the time loss and avoid the legal problems.
Keywords : Adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, histopathology, pediatrics