Between 1993 and 2004, 109 children with tonsillar hyperplasia without former episodes of tonsillitis received laser-tonsillotomy mostly (n = 98) combined with adenoidectomy. The protruding part of the tonsil was reduced by a CO2–laser. Seventy-five children were available for follow-up with a standard questionnaire. Five patients required a subsequent tonsillectomy due to a recurrence of tonsillar hyperplasia. Histological investigations were performed. Twenty-two children were reevaluated by clinical examination.
Most of the patients were relieved from obstructive symptoms. There was no occurrence of postoperative hemorrhage or peritonsillar abscesses. The histological investigations on the specimens from later performed tonsillectomy (n = 5) showed no evidence of inflammation or scar formations, but open and deep crypts. The clinical examination did not reveal any signs of chronic infections.
In this retrospective study tonsillotomy with CO2–laser in early childhood leads to a long-term elimination of obstructive symptoms due to tonsillar hyperplasia with minimal discomfort for the patient while preserving normally functioning immunocompetent tonsillar tissue. Further prospective studies are planned.