[Histology after adenoidectomy/tonsillectomy? No conformity in Germany concerning the histopathological examination of adenoids or tonsils in children up to the age of 10 years].

BACKGROUND

It is more and more doubted that adenoids or tonsils have to be examined histologically in pediatric cases, in which history and clinical signs and symptoms are conclusive for chronic inflammation or hyperplasia. It is unknown whether there is any conformity about this question in Germany.

METHOD

The heads of all clinical departments of otorhinolaryngology (n=149) and a similar number of ENT specialists from the Berufsverband Deutscher HNO-Arzte (n=150) were surveyed by a simple questionnaire. They were asked if they would routinely send resected tissue for histopathological examination in the case of a child, up to 10 years old, presenting with a history and a status of chronic inflammation or hyperplasia and undergoing adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy. Furthermore they were asked whether they remembered any unusual or surprising report in this group of patients.

RESULTS

Feedback was 79%. All tissue was sent for examination by 59% of the colleagues answering this evaluation; palatine tonsils only were sent for examination by 14%, and 27% of the physicians did not send any tissue for histological work-up. During their professional career 17% of the responding ENT specialists had received a surprising result from the histopathological examination.

CONCLUSION

We do not have any consensus practiced in Germany concerning the necessity to send tissue for histopathological examination following adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy in children. It seems helpful to seek such consensus of opinion for medicolegal and socioeconomic reasons.