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Bilateral peritonsillar abscesses: our experience and clinical features.
Tetsuo Watanabe1, Masashi Suzuki
1Dept of Otolaryngology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1, Idaigoka, Yufu City, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|November 6, 2010
Summary
Bilateral peritonsillar abscesses (PTAs) occur in 6.5% of cases and are associated with younger age, no uvula deviation, and higher C-reactive protein. These findings suggest bilateral PTAs may indicate delayed diagnosis or treatment.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common complication of tonsillitis.
- Bilateral involvement in PTAs is less frequently reported but clinically significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and characteristics of bilateral peritonsillar abscesses (PTAs).
- To identify clinical factors predicting bilateral PTAs in patients undergoing immediate tonsillectomy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 409 patients with PTAs treated between 1984 and 2008.
- Immediate tonsillectomy performed in 90.7% of cases.
- Multivariate analysis of factors including age, symptom duration, medical history, and inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- Bilateral PTAs were identified in 6.5% of patients (24 of 371).
- Predictive factors for bilateral PTAs included younger age, absence of uvular deviation, and elevated C-reactive protein levels.
Conclusions:
- Bilateral PTAs are not rare and should be considered in treatment planning.
- Clinical features suggest bilateral PTAs may arise from delayed diagnosis or treatment.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the exact causation of bilateral PTAs.
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