Morphological radioautographic study of the palatine tonsils in chronic tonsillitis and healthy subjects

A pilot morphological (radioautographic) study of healthy and affected palatine tonsils (in hypertrophy and toxic-allergic form of chronic tonsillitis) in children and adults has shown that intensity of biosynthetic processes (protein-synthetic -- RNA synthesis and proliferative activity -- DNA synthesis) in the cells of palatine tonsils and structural changes of their tissues depend on characteristics of pathological process. Microbial penetration into the tonsils with formation of an active focus of chronic infection is traced.     

The evaluation of the palatine tonsil function in patients with chronic tonsillitis

The authors review the results of the research performed in patients with chronic tonsillitis in 1997-1999. Immunological activity of their palatine tonsils was evaluated according to the original technique which demonstrated relations between external functional activity of the palatine tonsils and age as well as symptoms of chronic tonsillitis. Additional information is presented on interrelations between lymphocytopoietic production of the palatine tonsils and hormonal status, metabolism, ecological and physical factors. The study of lifetime activity of the palatine tonsils is necessary for examination of local immunity of the mucous membranes of the lymphoid pharyngeal ring.     

Prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum in tonsils from patients with chronic tonsillitis

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum (FN) in patients with chronic tonsillitis in the age group 15–23 years. This indicates that FN might play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic tonsillitis in this age group, which is also the age group in which chronic or recurrent tonsillitis is most common.

Objectives: The role of FN in patients with acute and chronic tonsillitis is unclear. Thus, this study investigated the occurrence of FN in tonsils of patients with chronic tonsillitis. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of FN in patients that underwent tonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis. This study also investigated if FN was found at different areas in the tonsils.

Method: One hundred and twenty-six consecutive patients undergoing tonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis were included from the ENT clinics at Sunderby Hospital and Gällivare Hospital, Sweden. Both children and adults were included to encompass various age groups (age =2–57 years). Culture swabs were taken from three different levels of the tonsils – the surface, the crypts, and the inner core of the tonsils. Selective agar plates for detecting FN were used for culture. Culture was also made for detecting β-hemolytic streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, and Arcanobacterium.

Results: FN was the most common pathogen (19%). The highest prevalence of FN was found in the age group 15–23 years (in 34% of the patients). FN was detected both at the surface and in the core of the tonsils. Furthermore, in the few patients where FN was not detected in all three areas, FN was always detected at the tonsillar surface, in spite of being an anaerobic bacterium. Streptococci group G and C also occurred most frequently (30%) in the same age group as FN (15–23 years), whereas Streptococci group A was more evenly spread among the age groups.     

Palatine tonsils colonization with actinomyces species during chronic tonsillitis

The Actinomysec spp. are common saprophytic microorganisms which are found in the oral cavity, pharynx and palatine tonsils. The actinomycotic infections can be responsible for recurrent chronic tonsillitis. Data about presence of actinomycotic granules in tonsillar tissue and their influence clincal course are controversial in the available literarure sources. The presence study assesses the appearance of actinomycetes and the character of their invasivenes in the tonsillar tissue affilicted with chronic tonsillitis after tonsillectomy which were performed in Department of Otolaryngology Medical University of Lód? in 2005. The clinical manifestations and histopathological findings were retrospectively reviewed. Actinomycotic granules were presented in 21 cases. Most frequently in positive cases the granules were in crypts accompanied by accumulation of inflammatory mononuclear cells and bacteriae migration through the epithelium into the tonsillar tissue. There was no correlation between the clinical diagnosis and course and the presence of Actinomyces. Our results indicate that actinomycetes may play an active role in the etiology of chronic inflammatory of tonsillar tissue and the causative factor.     

The activity of chronic inflammation of palatine tonsils mucosa in chronic tonsillitis before and after treatment using UZOL-01-Ch device

A low-frequency ultrasound device UZOL-01-Ch was applied for therapy of chronic tonsillitis (CT). The activity of chronic inflammation was followed up under action of 0.05% dioxidine solution coming through the device UZOL-01-Ch on the tissues of palatine tonsils in CT at a clinical remission phase in 34 CT patients. CT activity degrees were proposed which were defined by the presence and distribution of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in inflammatory cellular infiltrate of palatine tonsil mucosa in CT. These degrees help assessed the results of therapeutic effect of the device UZOL-01-Ch on tonsil tissue in CT. Use of the device provided depression of inflammation activity in tonsil mucosa in CT patients at a clinical remission phase.