[Chronic tonsillitis: therapeutic and diagnostic approaches]

The article is a brief review of clinical and topographic anatomy of the palatine tonsils. Their role in formation of general and local immunity is shown. Etiological and pathogenetic aspects of chronic tonsillitis are considered: most frequent causing agents, underlying pathogenetic and immunological mechanisms. B.S. Preobrazhensky's and V.T. Palchun's clinical classification of chronic tonsillitis is presented. New approaches to etiopathogenetic treatment of chronic tonsillitis are described.