Laser-tonsillotomy for treatment of obstructive tonsillar hyperplasia in early childhood: a retrospective review.
INTRODUCTION: Tonsillar hyperplasia leading to dyspnea, dysphagia and other symptoms of obstruction represents a common problem especially in young children where tonsillectomy should be avoided in order to preserve the immunological function of the tonsils. Aim of the study was to assess carbon-dioxide-laser-tonsillotomy as a considered alternative procedure to reduce the tonsillar volume in these children. METHODS: Between 1993 and 2004, 109 children with tonsillar hyperplasia without former episodes of tonsillitis received laser-tonsillotomy mostly (n=98) combined with adenoidectomy. The protruding part of the tonsil was reduced by a CO2-laser. Seventy-five children were available for follow-up with a standard questionnaire. Five patients required a subsequent tonsillectomy due to a recurrence of tonsillar hyperplasia. Histological investigations were performed. Twenty-two children were reevaluated by clinical examination. RESULTS: Most of the patients were relieved from obstructive symptoms. There was no occurrence of postoperative hemorrhage or peritonsillar abscesses. The histological investigations on the specimens from later performed tonsillectomy (n=5) showed no evidence of inflammation or scar formations, but open and deep crypts. The clinical examination did not reveal any signs of chronic infections. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study tonsillotomy with CO2-laser in early childhood leads to a long-term elimination of obstructive symptoms due to tonsillar hyperplasia with minimal discomfort for the patient while preserving normally functioning immunocompetent tonsillar tissue. Further prospective studies are planned.