Case Report, J Otol Rhinol Vol: 4 Issue: 5
Adenoid Stones - "Adenoliths"
| Hitomi Sakano1*, Ameet I. Thaker2 and Greg E. Davis1 | |
| 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, USA | |
| 2Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Washington, USA | |
| Corresponding author : Dr. Hitomi Sakano, MD, PhD, University of Washington, 1959 Pacific St, Box 356515, Seattle, WA, USA Tel: +1 (206) 616-4328; Fax: +1(206) 543-5152 E-mail: hitomisa@u.washington.edu |
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| Received: April 20, 2015 Accepted: July 07, 2015 Published: July 13, 2015 | |
| Citation: Sakano H, Thaker A, Davis GE (2015) Adenoid Stones – “Adenoliths”. J Otol Rhinol 4:4. doi:10.4172/2324-8785.1000240 |
Abstract
Stones made of bacterial aggregates can be found in chronically inflamed lymphoid tissue such as hypertrophied tonsils. Although it is common to find tonsilloliths in cryptic tonsils, it is rare to find stones in adenoid tissue. Here we present an interesting case of a patient who underwent adenoidectomy for adenoid hypertrophy, recurrent malaise and upper respiratory infections. Intraoperatively we found numerous bright green stones in the crypts of the adenoid tissue, reminiscent of tonsilloliths in tonsillar crypts. Pathology revealed polymicrobial bacterial aggregates surrounded by neutrophils. Our findings suggest that the pathophysiology is similar to that of tonsillolith formation. Thus, we should at least consider the presence of adenoid stones and consider adenoidectomy for symptoms often attributed to tonsilloliths. We have coined the term “adenoliths” to describe this interesting finding and present it as a potential source of recurrent infection.
