Clinical trials of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: limitations of existing studies and a current effort to evaluate efficacy.

Indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) are both uncertain and controversial. Only five prospective clinical trials of T&A have been reported. These studies provided important data, but failed to test the efficacy of the procedures in children most affected by tonsil- and adenoid-related conditions. A study currently under way focuses on just such children and also explores related immunologic issues.