Measuring the correlation between adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (AN ratio) and tympanogram in children

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (AN ratio) and tympanogram in children. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical study from June 2002 to May 2003. METHOD: A total of 64 children, aged 6-9 years who presented with nasal obstruction, snoring, mouth breathing, and hyponasal speech were examined and AN ratio was calculated by using the lateral neck radiograms and compared with the tympanometric values. The relationship between AN ratio and middle-ear pressure was evaluated, regarding the AN ratio of 0.71. The chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between AN ratio and middle ear pressures and Wilcoxon test was used to compare the changes between the mean AN ratio values, and mean middle ear pressures (including A and C type tympanograms) before and after medical therapy. RESULTS: Middle-ear effusions and C type tympanograms in impedance audiometry were both related to eustachian tube dysfunction resulting from enlargement of the adenoids with AN ratios higher than 0.71. Middle ear pressures were found lower in children with AN ratio greater than 0.71 than in children AN ratio less than 0.71 and the difference was highly significant (p<0.001). Although medical treatment of large adenoids was rather effective to shrink the adenoid tissue (p<0.001), it did not cause a statistically significant change in tympanometric values (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotherapy is effective in reducing adenoid size without signs and symptoms of infection. The reduction of the adenoids in size after 3 weeks of antibiotherapy has an positive effect on recovery of eustachian tube function but is not sufficient in patients with middle ear effusion. Early ventilation tube insertion may be an alternative therapy for the middle ear effusions not improving by 3 weeks medical therapy.     

儿童腺样体肥大与中耳咽鼓管功能相关性分析

目的:探讨腺样体大小与中耳功能和咽鼓管功能的相关性。方法:回顾性分析2004年2月~2004年10月因腺样体肥大收入院手术患儿的中耳功能,并比较腺样体肥大患儿和正常同龄儿童的咽鼓管功能的差异。结果:①腺样体大小与中耳压力有明显的负相关性(r=-0.41,P<0.05);②腺样体肥大患儿咽鼓管功能(13.9±13.2)daPa,与正常儿童咽鼓管功能(22.5±10.4)daPa比较,差异有统计学意义(t=-3.1,P<0.01);③患儿腺样体的大小程度与咽鼓管功能无明显相关性(r=-0.19,P>0.05)。结论:腺样体病理性肥大可引起咽鼓管功能障碍,是分泌性中耳炎(SOM)的发病基础。     

Clinical, bacteriological, and histological study of adenoids in children

PURPOSE: The adenoid has long been recognized as an important factor in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). However, there is still considerable debate concerning how the condition of the adenoid tissue is involved in the cause of OME. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the adenoid is an active agent of OME. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-six patients aged from 3 to 6 years who underwent adenoidectomy at Oita Medical University (Japan) were retrospectively compared with patients with and without OME regarding macroscopic size of the adenoid, adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (AN ratio), incidence of sinusitis and nasal allergy, bacteriological examination of adenoid tissues, reticular formation of the epithelium, and the percent of ciliated epithelium. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the size of adenoids. Haemophilus influenzae (HI) was cultured more frequently in adenoid specimens from patients with OME. A tendency toward increased stratified squamous epithelium and decreased ciliated epithelium was apparent in patients with OME. Reticular epithelium extension was greater in patients with than without OME. CONCLUSION: Adenoid inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of OME and the adenoids have an important role in the cause of OME by being a reservoir for HI.     

Adherent biofilms in adenotonsillar diseases in children

OBJECTIVE: To study biofilm formation on the epithelial surfaces of tonsils and adenoids in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy (T&A). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary academic hospital. PATIENTS: Between September 2005 and August 2006, 76 patients (mean [SD] age, 5.7 [3.3] years; age range, 1-18 years; male-female ratio, 1.8:1) undergoing T&A to treat infection, obstruction, or both were included. Of these, 44 had obstruction (58%), 26 had infection (34%), and 6 had both (8%). INTERVENTIONS: Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess for the presence of biofilms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Presence of adherent biofilms on the surface epithelium of tonsils and adenoids. RESULTS: Adherent biofilm formation was demonstrated in 46 patients (61%). Among 26 patients with infections, adherent biofilm formation was detected in 22 (85%), whereas in the group of 44 patients with obstruction only 18 were found to have biofilms (41%). Comparative analysis of the data revealed that the difference was statistically significant (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Biofilms were identified on the surfaces of infected or enlarged tonsils and adenoids in most patients undergoing T&A. The presence of biofilms in a significantly higher proportion of patients with chronically inflamed tonsils and adenoids vs patients with obstruction indicates an association between the presence of biofilms and chronic inflammation.     

IgE-positive plasma cells are present in adenoids of atopic children

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the presence of IgE(+) plasma cells in the adenoids of atopic children. Our data suggest that adenoids are capable of local production of IgE and support the role of adenoids as an inductive site for allergic reactions. OBJECTIVE: We have previously demonstrated increased numbers of IgE(+) cells in the adenoids of atopic children and also found support for an IL-4-induced class switch to IgE production in adenoids. In search of further evidence of adenoids being involved in IgE-mediated sensitization, we investigated the distribution of plasma cells and macrophages positive for IgE in adenoids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adenoid tissue from atopic and non-atopic children was examined using immunohistochemical markers for IgE, plasma cells (CD138) and macrophages (CD68). The distribution of positive cells was determined in the extrafollicular area and in the follicles of adenoids. Co-localization of IgE and CD138(+) plasma cells and CD68(+) macrophages was examined using immunohistochemical double-staining methods. RESULTS: Non-atopic adenoids contained no or very few IgE(+) cells. In contrast, IgE(+) cells were found in high numbers in atopic adenoids, mainly in the extrafollicular area. Higher numbers of IgE(+) plasma cells and IgE(+) macrophages were also found in the adenoids of atopic children.     

Bacteriology of adenoids and tonsils in children with recurrent adenotonsillitis

Adenoids and tonsils electively removed from 25 children with a history of recurrent group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) adenotonsillitis were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Two hundred twenty-four organisms (112 aerobes and facultatives, 110 anaerobes, and 2 Candida albicans) were isolated from the tonsils, and 229 (111 aerobes and facultatives and 118 anaerobes) were isolated from the adenoids. Mixed infection was present in all instances, with an average of 9.1 isolates per specimen. The predominant aerobes were Streptococcus sp, Haemophilus influenzae, and GABHS, and the prevalent anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium spp. Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were detected in 72 isolates recovered from 22 tonsils (88%) and in 74 isolates recovered from 21 adenoids (84%). Discrepancies in the organisms recovered were found between the tonsils and adenoids. Of the aerobic isolates, 20% were isolated only in tonsils and 18% only in adenoids. Of the anaerobes, 20% were found only in tonsils and 26% only in adenoids. This study demonstrates a polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic flora in both adenoids and tonsils, and discrepancies in recovery of pathogens such as GABHS. The adenoids may serve as a potential source of tonsillitis caused by GABHS.     

Relation between adenoid size and otitis media with effusion

AimsThis study compares the efficacy of adenoidectomy on otitis media with effusion (OME) in patients with different size of adenoids and the connection between differently sized adenoids and middle ear effusion.Material and methodsChildren with a history of at least 3 months’ OME underwent adenoidectomy and myringotomy without the insertion of a tympanostomy tube. Treatment assignment was stratified by adenoids’ size causing choanal obstruction (grade I-III) and according to Eustachian tube ostium obstruction (grade A–C). The subjects were followed for 12 months.ResultsAdenoidectomy was significantly more effective in children with adenoids in contact with torus tubarius (grade B, C) compared to those with small adenoids without contact (P < 0.001). The volume of the adenoids was irrelevant (P = 0.146). The size of adenoids did not affect the viscosity of the middle ear secretion. The distribution of mucous and serous secretion was not dependent on the size of adenoids; the efficacy of adenoidectomy was 82% in mucous as well as serous secretion.ConclusionThe relation between adenoids and torus tubarius is more important than the volume of the adenoids. The viscosity of middle ear fluids (serous or mucous) did not influence the rate of treatment efficacy.     

Implication of immunological abnormalities after adenotonsillotomy

The adenoids and tonsils are thought to be essential parts of the system protecting organism against pathogens invading the upper respiratory tracts. Human adenoids and tonsils are known to be immunologically reactive lymphoid organs, which manifest specific antibodies and B and T cells activity in response to variety of antigens carrying out the functions of humoral and cellular immunity. The purpose of the study was to observe the changes in systemic immunity in children with hypertrophy of adenoids and tonsils treated in Department of Laryngology, Children's Hospital in Warsaw in period 1994-1999. The study comprised 80 patients (33 girls and 47 boys, aged from 3 to 14 years, mean age 6.8 years) with diagnosed hypertrophy of adenoids and tonsils. The diagnosis of hypertrophy of adenoids and tonsils was based on characteristic history and laryngological examination. All patients were scheduled for adenotonsillotomy. The control group comprised 40 people (14 girls and 26 boys, aged from 3 to 15 years, mean age 7.6 years) without history of the recurrent upper tract infections. In all patients we carried out following examinations: serum levels of immunoglobulins A, G, M (humoral immunity); percentage of T lymphocytes (CD3); percentage of T helper (CD4) and T cytotoxic (CD8) lymphocytes (cellular immunity) and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity-Multitest CMI (cell mediated immunity). Our study demonstrate that in children with hypertrophy of adenoids and tonsils exist changes in the immunological parameters. The observed changes appear not only locally but also generally. In the early period after adenotonsillotomy there was statistically significant decrease of the values of humoral and cellular immunity parameters. However, 6 months after operation we observed normalization of examined immunological parameters. We think that the examinations of parameters of immunological system (humoral and cellular) are necessary before planned adenotonsillotomy.     

儿童腺样体切除术对相关疾病转归的影响

目的探讨腺样体切除术在治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎、鼻窦炎及鼾症的临床作用。方法对住院行腺样体切除术的68例分泌性中耳炎、鼻窦炎及鼾症患儿的临床表现、治疗方法和预后进行回顾性分析。结果68例患儿经切除肥大的腺样体,辅以相应的药物治疗,临床症状均明显好转。结论腺样体肥大较易成为儿童分泌性中耳炎、鼻窦炎及鼾症发病的基础因素。切除肥大的腺样体是治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎、鼻窦炎及鼾症有效、安全的方法。     

Pathological and biochemical study in the adenoid of mucopolysaccharidosis II

In the patients with mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II, Hunter's syndrome), conductive and sensorineural hearing deficits are frequently observed. Two patients with MPS II underwent adenoidectomy and an ear douche, and their conductive hearing loss recovered after the surgery. Pathological examination of the adenoids revealed the infiltration of faintly PAS-positive plasmacytes with perinuclear vacuole and strongly Alcian-blue positive fibrotic area. Biochemical study was performed by chromatoscanning of electropholesis. The amount of glycosaminoglicans (GAG) in the specimens was increased 2.8-fold compared with the normal control. The electropholetic pattern showed an increase of dermatan sulfate (DS), heparan sulfate (HS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the adenoids of the patients. The ratio of DS to HS was 1.1–1.2. In the patients of MPS II, the accumulation of GAG occurs in the pharyngeal tonsil and causes conductive hearing impairment. We recommend adenoidectomy for such patients.     

Association between adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio and right ventricular diastolic functions in children with adenoid hypertrophy causing upper airway obstruction

OBJECTIVE: Adenoid hypertrophy causing upper airway obstruction can cause cardiovascular complications, including pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure in children. Adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (ANR) is a practical, non-invasive and reliable method to evaluate adenoid enlargement. Our aim was to evaluate a possible association between ANR and echocardiographic parameters of right ventricle. METHODS: Twenty-one children who were affected by upper respiratory obstruction symptoms due to adenoid hypertrophy were included in this study (male/female: 12/9; mean age was 6.0 +/- 1.5 years). ANRs were calculated as the ratio of adenoidal depths to the nasopharyngeal depths on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Pulmonary arterial pressures, right ventricular diastolic filling parameters (peak E, peak A, E/A ratio), right ventricular end-diastolic diameters, and left ventricular ejection fractions were measured using echocardiography both preoperatively and also 3 months after the operation. RESULTS: Preoperative pulmonary arterial pressure, E/A ratio, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction values were 23.10 +/-3.43 mmHg, 1.01 +/- 0.20, 1.95 +/- 0.16 cm, and 69.43 +/- 3.68%, respectively. Postoperative pulmonary arterial pressure, E/A ratio, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction values were 16.94 +/- 1.45 mmHg, 1.24 +/- 0.14, 1.72 +/- 0.15 cm, and 69.77 +/- 2.17%, respectively. There were significant differences between preoperative and postoperative pulmonary arterial pressures, E/A ratios, and right ventricular end-diastolic diameters (p < 0.01 for each), while left ventricular ejection fraction values did not significantly change after the operation (p > 0.05). There was a negative correlation between E/A ratio and ANR-Ba (p < 0.05, r = -0.44). CONCLUSION: ANR can give information about the right ventricular functions in children with enlarged adenoids causing obstructive symptoms.     

Adenoidectomy in otitis media. A review

For many years adenoids were thought to affect adversely middle ear (ME) aeration by obstructing the eustachian tube opening, leading to ME infections and effusions. Consequently, the adenoids have often been removed in children suffering from ME diseases; indeed, adenoidectomy is still performed around the globe on millions of children annually. Opinions vary, however, on the usefulness of the operation in various ME diseases. The purpose of this study is to review the available studies concerning the relationship of adenoids to the ME as well as the effect and benefit of adenoidectomy on ME effusions and ME infections.     

Adenoidectomy: selection criteria for surgical cases of otitis media

OBJECTIVE: Nasopharyngeal adenoids may serve as a mechanical obstruction to the eustachian tube and contribute to the pathophysiology of otitis media (OM). The purpose of this study was to determine whether abutment of adenoids laterally against the torus tubaris affects the outcome of patients requiring pressure equalization tubes (PET) for OM. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, prospective clinical trial. METHOD: Patients requiring PET for recurrent acute OM or OM with persistent effusion were randomized into two groups: 1) PET placement and 2) PET placement and adenoidectomy, regardless of whether the adenoids were abutting or not abutting the torus tubaris. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year to determine rate of treatment failure, defined as recurrence of acute OM (>3 times/year), OM with effusion, or reinsertion of PET. RESULTS: Of the 34 patients in the abutting group, 16 patients underwent only PET insertion, of whom 8 (50%) failed, whereas 18 patients had combined PET placement and adenoidectomy, of whom 3 (17%) failed. There was a statistical difference between these two groups (P < 05). Of the 29 patients in the nonabutting group, 24 patients underwent only PET insertion, of whom 9 (37.5%) failed, whereas 5 patients underwent combined PET placement and adenoidectomy, of whom 2 (40%) failed. There was no statistical difference between these two groups (P =.92). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the position of hypertrophied adenoids may alter the final otologic outcome of patients requiring PET insertion for OM. Patients with adenoids abutting the torus tubaris may benefit most from an adjuvant adenoidectomy.     

Immunohistological study on immunocompetent cells in palatine tonsil and pharyngeal tonsil--the quantitative study by image analyzer

Distribution of various immunocompetent cells, i.e., IgG-, IgM-, IgA-, IgD-, IgE-, CD4-, and CD8-positive cells in palatine tonsils (tonsils) and pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) of same patients were investigated immunohistologically by using monoclonal antibodies. The proportion of Ig-positive cells and T cell subsets in both tonsils were quantitatively studied by the image analyzer (CUE-2, Olympus, USA). The results were summarized as follows: 1) There was no significant difference in proportions of Ig-positive cells and T cell subsets between tonsils and adenoids. 2) IgG- and IgD-positive cells in the tonsils were significantly increased in cases with recurrent tonsillitis than in those with simple tonsillar hypertrophy. 3) Number of IgA2-positive cells were significantly changed, i.e., decreased in the subepithelial area of tonsils and increased in the interfollicular area of adenoids in cases complicated with otitis media with effusion. 4) In cases complicated with nasal allergy, IgE-positive cells were significantly increased in the interfollicular area in both of those tonsils and adenoids. These results indicate that the image analyzer will be a breakthrough in quantitative study on the immunohistology of tonsils and adenoids and give us useful informations about roles of the tonsil and the adenoid on the local immunity of the upper respiratory airway.     

The correlation between ECochG parameters and early auditory behavior after cochlear implantation in children

Objective: The individual outcome after cochlear implantation in children with auditory synaptopathy/neuropathy (AS/AN) is difficult to predict. A tool for preoperative assessment would be helpful for counseling parents. This study evaluates the outcome after CI in children with AS/AN and with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and correlates it with the preoperative ECochG results in order to find specific parameters of prognostic value. Design: The improvement of auditory behavior after CI was retrospectively assessed using the LittlEARS questionnaire and quantified in a score (LS). This score was correlated with the CAP/SP ratio in the preoperative ECochG. The score was further correlated with the patient’s age six months following CI. Study sample: Nine children with AS/AN were compared to nine children with SNHL. Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in LS following CI. There was a significant positive correlation between the CAP/SP ratio and the improvement in LS in all children. The correlation between age and LS was significantly negative in the SNHL group and positive in the AS/AN group. Conclusion: All children with AS/AN and SNHL benefit to a similar extent from CI. The preoperatively assessed CAP/SP ratio has a prognostic value for the development of auditory behavior following CI.     

Effect of antimicrobial therapy with amoxicillin and cefprozil on bacterial interference and beta-lactamase production in the adenoids

To compare the effects on the bacterial flora of the adenoids of antimicrobial therapy with amoxicillin or cefprozil, we enrolled in a prospective randomized study 60 children scheduled for elective adenoidectomy because of recurrent otitis media. They were randomized before surgery into 3 groups of 20 patients each: a no-therapy group, and groups with 10 days of either amoxicillin or cefprozil therapy. Core adenoid materials were quantitatively cultured for aerobic and facultative bacteria. The in vitro ability of alpha-hemolytic streptococci (AHS) to inhibit the growth of non-type B Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae was determined. The number of organisms in adenoids obtained from patients treated with either antibiotic was reduced as compared to that in adenoids from controls. However, in patients treated with amoxicillin, a significant decline in the number of AHS, and an increase (in Staphylococcus aureus) or no change in the number of other beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (BLPB) was noted. In contrast, in those treated with cefprozil, no change was noted in the frequency of recovery of AHS, and the number of BLPB decreased. Interfering AHS were more often recovered in patients treated with cefprozil. We conclude that the adenoids contain more interfering AHS after therapy with a second-generation oral cephalosporin (cefprozil) than after amoxicillin therapy. This study suggests a potential beneficial effect of using an antimicrobial that selectively spares interfering AHS while inhibiting BLPB.     

Polysomnographic studies in children undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy

Forty children (age group four to 12 years) undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy were subjected to pre- and post-operative polysomnography. Thorough clinical evaluation and X-ray soft tissue nasopharynx lateral view was carried out for all the patients. The tonsils were clinically graded from grade I to IV, whereas the adenoids were measured radiographically (using three different measurements) in all children. Thirty out of 40 (75 per cent) children presented with predominant obstructive symptoms, out of whom 22 (73.3 per cent) were found to have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), i.e. apnoea index > five per hour. The remaining 10 (25 per cent) had predominantly inflammatory symptoms on presentation and out of these two (20 per cent) were found to have OSA. Relative adenoid size expressed as a ratio between the distance from the point of maximum thickness of adenoids along a line drawn along a straight part of the basiocciput and distance from the posterior nasal spine to the antero-inferior edge of the sphenobasioccipital synchondrosis, was found to have a highly significant correlation with the grade of OSA. In our study, all patients with this ratio greater than 0.64 were found to have OSA. No correlation between tonsil size and grade of OSA was found. There was a highly significant improvement in polysomnographic scores following surgery in all patients.     

The ubiquity of asymptomatic respiratory viral infections in the tonsils and adenoids of children and their impact on airway obstruction

BackgroundAirway obstruction due to enlargement of tonsils and adenoids is a common pediatric problem resulting in sleep disordered breathing. The cause for the relatively abnormal growth of tonsils and adenoids is poorly understood.MethodsNon-acutely ill children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) for various reasons were enrolled prospectively in a study to determine the frequency of asymptomatic respiratory viral infections in each lymphoid tissue and to relate the number and types of virus to the degree of airway obstruction. Molecular techniques were used to detect 9 respiratory viruses while Brodsky scores and measurements of percentages airway obstruction were used to estimate the degree of airway compromise due to the tonsil and adenoid, respectively.ResultsViruses were detected in 70.9% of tonsils and 94.7% of adenoids, p < 0.001. Adenovirus was the most common virus detected at 71.1%. Adenoids had an average of 2.4 viruses compared to 0.92 for tonsils, p < 0.001. Higher Brodsky scores were only associated with EBV in tonsils, p = 0.03, while greater percentages of airway obstruction in the adenoids were associated with adenovirus, EBV, corona virus, parainfluenza virus and rhinovirus, p ≤ 0.005.ConclusionsAsymptomatic viral infections are common and directly related to the degree of airway obstruction significantly more often in adenoids than tonsils.     

Bacterial invasion of the tonsillar tissues in acute pharyngotonsillitis and in the adenoid: a preliminary study

In order to understand the immunological and inflammatory processes in which the tonsils are involved it is necessary to know the spatial relation between bacteria and the tissues. In this study four adenoids and four palatine tonsils obtained at elective surgery and four palatine tonsils obtained during a chaud surgery for quinsy were examined histologically. Acridine orange and fluorescence microscopy were used to identify bacteria in tonsillar tissue. The adenoids were also stained with haematoxillin-eosin. Bacteria were in every case seen on the surfaces and in the crypts of the tonsils and adenoids. In the tissues, however, bacteria were never seen irrespective of whether the tonsils were obtained during an acute infection or not. We conclude that bacterial invasion in tonsillar tissue is neither a prerequisite for a clinically manifest acute bacterial pharyngotonsillitis nor a common feature in tonsils clinically recognized as non-infected.