Palatine Tonsils Asymmetry: 10 Years Experience of the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná

Summary

Introduction: A few patients with asymmetric palatine tonsils have lymphoma; but most lymphomas in palatine tonsils evolve with tonsillar asymmetry.

Objective: To report the profile of patients and histopathological changes in patients submitted to adenotonsillectomy/tonsillectomy with disproportional palatine tonsils.

Method: Retrospective study based on data analysis from the Pathologic Anatomy Service Database and in the review of reports of patients submitted to adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy with palatine tonsils asymmetry during the period from October 1999 through October 2009 at the Clinical Hospital (HC) of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR).

Results: 50 patients took part, aged between 3 to 53 years old, mean age of 14.05 years. The anatomopathological exam confirmed 48 patients (96%) with lymphoid hyperplasia and 2 cases of lymphoma (4%). These included men aged from 40 to 53 yeas with complaint of unilateral increase of the tonsil, one of whom had other symptoms (asthenia and weight loss). Upon physical examination: tonsils disproportion without involvement of other organs or lymph nodes.

Conclusion: Our study is according to the literature as regards the fact the lymphomas are more common in men, the patient is the first one to notice the increase in volume and the asymmetry is larger than 2 degrees between palatine tonsils in cases of lymphoma. Although it is rare, even in the presence of differences, there are chances for the asymmetry to evolve to a malignant profile. The need for anatomopathological evaluation of a part must be considered along with other clinical data that suggests a malignant profile.

Resumo

Introdução: Poucos pacientes com amígdalas palatinas assimétricas apresentam linfoma, entretanto a maioria dos linfomas em amígdalas palatinas cursam com assimetria amigdaliana.

Objetivo: Relatar o perfil dos pacientes e das alterações histopatológicas em pacientes submetidos a adenoamigdalectomia/amigdalectomia com amígdalas palatinas desproporcionais.

Método: Estudo retrospectivo, baseado na análise de dados do Banco de Dados do Serviço de Anatomia Patológica e na revisão dos prontuários de pacientes submetidos a adenoamigdalectomias e amigdalectomias com assimetria de amígdalas palatinas durante o período de outubro de 1999 a outubro de 2009 no Hospital de Clínicas (HC) da Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR).

Resultados: Foram incluídos 50 pacientes, com idade entre 3 a 53 anos, idade média de 14,05 anos. O exame anatomopatológico evidenciou 48 pacientes (96%) com hiperplasia linfoide e 2 casos de linfoma (4%). Estes eram homens de 40 e 53 anos com queixa de aumento unilateral da amígdala, um deles apresentava outros sintomas (astenia e emagrecimento). Ao exame físico: desproporção amigdaliana, sem envolvimento de outros órgãos ou linfonodos.

Conclusões: Nosso estudo concorda com a literatura quanto aos linfomas serem mais comuns em homens, o paciente ser o primeiro a notificar o aumento de volume e a assimetria ser maior que 2 graus entre as amígdalas palatinas em casos de linfoma. Embora raro, mesmo na presença de disparidades, há chances da assimetria cursar com um quadro maligno. A necessidade de avaliação anatomopatológica de uma peça deve ser considerada juntamente a outros dados clínicos que sugiram um quadro maligno em vigência.

Keywords

palatine tonsil - tonsillitis - tonsil neoplasms - tonsillectomy

Palavras-chave

tonsila palatina - tonsilite - neoplasias tonsilares - tonsilectomia

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