Factors associated with hypertrophy of the lingual tonsils in adults with sleep-disordered breathing
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
Published on: July 6, 2017
Myung-Whun Sung1, Woo Hyun Lee, Jee Hye Wee
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Importance:
This study shows factors affecting lingual tonsil hypertrophy (LTH) in sleep-disordered breathing.
Objective:
To identify the factors associated with LTH in adults with sleep-disordered breathing.
Design:
Retrospective analysis.
Setting:
Academic tertiary referral center.
Participants:
Ninety-seven adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea, who visited the Department of Otorhinolaryngology sleep clinic, were included from February 2009 through August 2011.
Interventions:
All patients underwent WatchPAT (peripheral arterial tone) examination, endoscopic examination of the upper airway, simple skull lateral radiography, and cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sleep study of the upper airway tract.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
Prognostic factors indicating LTH in adults with sleep-disordered breathing.
Results:
A total of 97 subjects were included in this study. The median (interquartile range) apnea hypopnea index was 16.5/h (7.6/h-27.5/h). The median (interquartile range) thickness of the lingual tonsils as measured by MRI was 3.6 mm (1.9-5.2 mm) and 4.9 mm (2.9-6.7 mm) in the midline and paramidline of the tongue base, respectively (P < .001). Laryngopharyngeal reflux (reflux finding score >7) was present in 32 patients. The endoscopic grade of LTH agreed with the radiographic grade (κ = 0.731; P < .001). Lingual tonsil thickness as measured by MRI was correlated with the endoscopic grade of LTH (P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that laryngopharyngeal reflux (P < .001) and body mass index (P = .046) were independently significant factors associated with LTH as measured by MRI.
Conclusions And Relevance:
Reflux finding score and body mass index were significantly associated with LTH in adults with sleep-disordered breathing, whereas the respiratory parameters were not associated with LTH.
More Related Videos
07:54Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
07:38Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue
Published on: June 14, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Tonsillitis I: Introduction
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.
Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Tonsillitis II: Management
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...