Lingual tonsil hypertrophy as a cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome – case report

Abstract

the hypertrophy of the lingual tonsil (Lth) could be the cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. this disorder may cause obstructive sleep apnea (osa) and also may lead to a life-threatening obstruction of the upper airway. Lingual tonsil hypertrophy is more frequently described in adults. Lth often occurs in children with prior palatine tonsillectomies or adenoidectomies. diagnosis of lingual tonsil hypertrophy in patients with osa requires a careful ent examination by advanced technologic methods. the sleep apnea is successfully treated by lingual tonsillectomy, with or without tracheotomy. tracheostomy allows the obstructive airway with postoperative oedema to be bypassed. in this study we present the case of a child with persistent syndroms of a sleep apnea. patient underwent six adenotonsillectomies in the past. ent examination and ct scans showed that symptoms of osa were caused by lingual tonsil hypertrophy. patient was treated with a lingual tonsillectomy with tracheotomy and it was an effective treatment for this case.