Ultrasonographic measurement of palatine tonsil size and its correlation with body-mass index and hepatosteatosis in adolescents

Aim: To research the correlation between body-mass index (BMI) and hepatosteatosis with palatine tonsil size measured using transcervical ultrasonography (TCU) in adolescents. Material and Method: This prospective study included 56 males and 41 females for a total of 97 adolescents. Cases were divided into three groups as those healthy according to BMI and hepatosteatosis (Group 1), those obese without hepatosteatosis (Group 2) and those obese with hepatosteatosis (Group 3). Palatine tonsil size was assessed with a 4.8-11.0 MHz linear transducer, while liver echo was assessed with a 3.5-5 MHz convex transducer. Cut-off values for variables in the groups were analyzed with Receiver Operating Curve. Results: The mean ages in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 159.67±24.9, 159.17±24.7 and 160.7±25.8 months, respectively. Tonsil volumes were 3.18±0.5, 3.73±0.9 and 4.45±0.7 ml in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively and there was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p values for Groups 1-2 0.011, Groups 1-3 <0.001 and Groups 2-3 0.002). The sensitivity and specificity of threshold tonsil volume for differentiation between groups was calculated as 50% and 90% for the threshold value of 3.73 ml between Groups 1 and 2, 86.7% and 100% for the threshold value of 3.88 ml between Groups 1 and 3 and 86.7% and 63.3% for the threshold value of 3.88 ml between Groups 2 and 3. Conclusion: TCU is beneficial method to objectively assess palatine tonsil volume. There is a positive increasing correlation between palatine tonsil volume with BMI and hepatosteatosis in adolescents.