KBB-Forum 2026 , Cilt 25, Sayı 3

EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS IN TONSILLITIS PATIENTS USING INFLAMMATORY BLOOD MARKERS

Agah YENİÇERİ; 1, MD Ayşe Seçil KAYALI DİNÇ; 1, Prof Çetin ŞAHUTOĞLU; 1, MD Kardelen KAYIŞ; 1, MD Melih ÇAYÖNÜ; 1, Prof
1Ankara Bilkent Şehir Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz, Ankara, Türkiye Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of inflammatory markers in predicting the development of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) in patients with tonsillitis and to identify key hematological parameters associated with PTA, thereby contributing to early recognition and risk classification of severe tonsillar infections.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 382 patients (210 with PTA, 172 with tonsillitis) between April 2019 and January 2024. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, including complete blood count (CBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, were analyzed. Inflammatory markers such as white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) were assessed. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: Significant differences in inflammatory markers were observed between the PTA and tonsillitis groups (p < 0.05). WBC, CRP, SII, and SIRI demonstrated the highest diagnostic value with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.833, 0.777, 0.719, and 0.763, respectively. WBC and CRP were the most accurate biomarkers for diagnosing PTA, with sensitivities of 76% and 74%, and specificities of 77% and 75%, respectively. After adjustment for gender, WBC, CRP, SII, and SIRI remained significant independent predictors of peritonsillar abscess.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight the diagnostic value of WBC and CRP in distinguishing PTA from uncomplicated tonsillitis. SII and SIRI were also identified as useful supportive markers. Integrating these inflammatory markers into clinical practice can enhance early diagnosis, improve risk stratification, and optimize patient management. Keywords : Tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, biomarkers, inflammation