Does subjective tonsillar grading reflect the real volume of palatine tonsils?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare the subjective tonsil size (grade) with real palatine tonsil volume, body mass index, body surface area, age, and gender. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-two patients with the diagnosis of recurrent acute tonsillitis, ages 3-15 years, (156 male and 136 female) who underwent tonsillectomy were enrolled into this study. The correlation of subjective tonsil size to objective tonsil volume, body mass index, body surface area, age, and gender size was investigated. The statistical correlations were evaluated by Pearsons' bivariate correlation method. RESULTS: There was statistically significant correlation between objective volume of tonsils and subjective grading of tonsils (p<0.001). There was statistically significant correlation between objective volume of tonsils (both right and left tonsil) and body mass index (p=0.008 and 0.013) respectively. There was statistically significant correlation between objective volume of tonsils and body surface area (p=0.009). There was statistically significant correlation between volume of tonsils and age (p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Objective tonsil volume is correlated with subjective tonsil size, body mass index, body surface area and age in patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis. Follow-up of palatine tonsil status (volume) of patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis may be decided according to the subjective tonsil size. The correlations of aforementioned parameters to objective tonsil volume should be searched for other pathologies of palatine tonsils.