PHARYNGEAL STENOSIS FOLLOWING LINGUAL TONSILLECTOMY A CASE REPORT

• Published in: JIBI INKOKA TEMBO Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 166 - 170
• Main Authors: Sakumoto, Makoto, Kimura, Yasuyuki, Okabe, Yozo, Nagayama, Ikuo, Furukawa, Mitsuru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Society of Oto-rhino-laryngology Tokyo 1993
• Subjects: complication of lingual tonsillectomy; hypernasality; pharyngeal stenosis
• ISSN: 0386-9687; 1883-6429
• DOI: 10.11453/orltokyo1958.36.166

A case report of pharyngeal stenosis, apparently following lingual tonsillectomy, is presented. A 38-year-old man, with a history of tonsillectomy at 23 years of age, complained of a swallowing discomfort and a change in voice after the surgical therapy for chronic lingual tonsillitis elsewhere at 33 years of age. Bilateral palatine arch adhered to the tongue base and the posterior wall of the pharynx, therefore, the pharynx was stenosed like a pharyngeal “web” postero-laterally. Mild hypernasality and nasal emission were pointed out by speech pathologist, although obstructive airway signs and symptoms was not seen. Because of thin adhesion, surgical correction of the stenotic pharynx was accomplished using contact YAG LASER without flap reconstruction. Postoperatively his complaints was disapeared and there have been no signs of recurrent stenosis for 2 months. Surgeons should keep the fact in mind that pharyngeal cicatricial stenosis is one of the complications of palatine tonsillectomy and lingual tonsillectomy.