Are Histologic Studies of Adenotonsillectomy Really Necessary?

Abstract

Introduction In most ear, nose, and throat services, it is routine to send the material extracted from tonsillectomy for histologic study to research malignancy, to analyze suspect material, or to provide medical-legal documentation. Recent studies have shown that this routine analysis is dispensable.

Objective To evaluate the actual need and perform a cost–benefit analysis of routine histopathologic examination in tonsillectomy with no signs or symptoms of malignancy.

Methods A retrospective observational study evaluated the charts of patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy from January 2008 to September 2009 at the Institute of Otorhinolaryngology CEMA-SP. Costs of this test for the public health system were analyzed and the literature reviewed.

Results We studied 281 patients between 2 and 22 years of age; 142 (50.5%) were male and 139 (49.5%) were female. Of the surgeries, 201 were adenotonsillectomies (71.5%), 41 were tonsillectomies (14.5%), and 39 were adenoidectomies (14%). The most common indication for surgery was recurrent infection (63.3%). None of study patients had clinical suspicion of malignancy. The tests showed a cost of R$20.03 per tonsil analyzed.

Conclusion Routine histopathologic examination in patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy with no signs or symptoms of malignancy is dispensable and increases the cost of the surgeries.

Keywords

tonsillar neoplasms - tonsillectomy - adenoidectomy

Introduction

Adenotonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids, and it is one of the most common and most frequently performed surgical procedures in the world.[1] [2] Its different indications can be divided into therapeutic, diagnostic, as well as access to other surgeries. Sleep apnea syndrome, hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids, chronic tonsillitis, halitosis, and suspicion of malignancy are indications for adenotonsillectomy, but the most frequent indication is recurrent tonsillitis.

Most otolaryngology services routinely send adenotonsillectomy specimens for histopathologic examination, whether for malignancy investigation, analysis of suspect material, or medicolegal documentation of surgical removal.[1] Recent studies have shown that routine histopathologic analysis of the tonsil is dispensable, because they have a very low probability of diagnosing occult malignancies. Unfortunately, this risk is still not zero, so the need for routine histopathology is still controversial.

Objective

Define the real need for routine histopathologic examination of adenotonsillectomy specimens and perform a cost–benefit analysis of its use in patients without risk factors for malignancy.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective observational study evaluated the records of all patients who had adenotonsillectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy from January 2008 to September 2009 at the CEMA Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, São Paulo, Brazil. This project was approved by the Ethics and Research Institution under the protocol 17.205/2009. Patients or their guardians signed an informed consent form, shown in [Appendix 1]. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, and the results are presented in absolute numbers.

We excluded patients with malignancy symptoms and signs. All patients underwent general anesthesia and tonsillectomy by extraction dissection technique. The pharyngeal tonsils were removed with a Beckmann curette. Specimens were immediately placed in sterile glass with 10% formalin and sent for histologic analysis. The tonsils were fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin, and sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. We studied the results of the histopathologic examinations, regardless of age, sex, and indication for surgery. We also analyzed the cost of this test for the public health system, and we reviewed the literature.

Results

A total of 281 patients were recruited, between 2 and 22 years old. Of them, 142 (50.5%) were male and 139 (49.5%) were female. Most patients had tonsil hypertrophy grade III according to the Brodsky classification and pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy documented by nasofibrolaryngoscopy.

Of the surgeries, 201 were adenotonsillectomies (71.5%), 41 were tonsillectomies (14.5%), and 39 were adenoidectomies (14%). The most common surgical indications were recurrent tonsillitis (63.3%) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (38.7%). None of the patients in our study had clinical suspicion of malignancy.

Results of the pathologic examinations of tonsils and adenoids are shown in [Tables 1] and [2]. The tests cost R$20.03 per piece analyzed; the adenotonsillectomy surgery has three pieces, reaching a total of R$60.09 per surgery.

Table 1 Results of histopathologic examination of the tonsils

Exam result	Number of tonsils	Percentage
CT with LH	282	58.3
CT with LH and suppurative foci	96	19.9
CT with LH with areas of surface erosion	44	9
CT with LH with colonies of actinomyces	46	9.6
CT with LH and submucous fibrosis	2	0.4
CT with recent hemorrhage	4	0.8
Nonspecific CT	6	1.2
Papilloma squamous cells	4	0.8
Total	484	100

Abbreviations: CT, chronic tonsillitis; LH, lymphatic hyperplasia.

Table 2 Results of histopathologic examination of the pharyngeal tonsils

Exam result	Number of tonsils	Percentage
Luschka pharyngeal adenoid hypertrophy	237	98.75
Lymphoid tissue of reactive pattern	2	0.84
Malpighian mucosa with vascular ectasia	1	0.41
Total	240	100

Discussion

Tonsils with malignant processes present different aspects than benign lesions on clinical examination; physical examination and medical history can be important guides. These lesions may start with nonspecific symptoms and insidious symptoms, and they are usually diagnosed in patients over 60 years old. Smoking and alcoholism are risk factors.

According Beaty et al,[3] risk factors for tonsillar malignancy include history of head and neck cancer, tonsillar asymmetry, visible lesion, ulcerated or hard consistency on palpation of the tonsil, unexplained weight loss or constitutional symptoms, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Usually the patient starts with dysphagia without signs of acute infection with ipsilateral otalgia, difficulty in mobility of the tongue, nasal voice, halitosis, and nasal reflux. Symptoms such as changes in tone of voice, drooling, bloody saliva, and trismus indicate deep infiltration of the tumor.

Many authors have reported that tests with positive results for malignancy had a suspected diagnosis before surgery. The result of histopathologic exams on tonsil specimens correlates well with preoperative clinical impressions, and their findings rarely change the management of the patient.[4]

Randall et al reported a prevalence of malignancy of 0.087% in routine examinations. In these patients, 88% had preoperative suspicion of malignancy. Among the tests, 0.011% had a positive result but no risk factor; the authors concluded that routine examination was unnecessary if there was no suspicion of malignancy.[1] Garavello et al noted a 0.18% incidence of positive histopathologic analysis without clinical suspicion in children, concluding that routine examinations were unnecessary.[5] Felix et al found a 0.19% incidence of positivity; however, all of the patients had some risk factor for tonsillar malignancy. The examinations did not locate any hidden malignancies.[6] Williams and Brown found 4,070 tonsils with malignancy on histopathology, and all of them had been diagnosed during preoperative evaluations.[7] A study by DellAringa et al showed no malignancy in the patients analyzed, finding a negative cost–benefit ratio for routine histopathologic exams.[8] Younis et al presented research that showed none of the 2,099 pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy had malignancy found on histopathologic exam, but this incidence differed from the adult population.[9] Mohamad et al also found in their study that routine examination is not necessary in the pediatric population.[10] Many authors have showed that histopathologic exam of specimens from children is superfluous[11] and that increasing age is a risk factor to be considered.[12] This fact is due to very different indications for tonsillectomy in different age groups; in adults, the incidence of excisional biopsies and symptoms of malignancy are much higher than in pediatric patients.

Spending with microscopic examinations by tonsil varies greatly in the studies, ranging from US $12.85 to US $90.00. Annual spending in the United States is approximately US $35,467,080.00. For the Brazilian government, spending on each piece is R$20.03.

Conclusion

Routine histopathologic examination in pediatric adenotonsillectomy specimens is dispensable, with a negative cost–benefit ratio. Despite all these studies showing that such tests burden the public purse as well as private health systems, surgeons are required to apply for the pathologic study because health plans require its result for the payment of the surgery.

We emphasize the importance of a thorough history and clinical examination in all patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy. In children, the chance of occult malignancy is very low. In patients with risk factor present in clinical ear, nose, and throat examination, this exam is indispensable. With more careful preoperative assessment, we could save millions of dollars per year.

• References

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