Severe hypertrophy of the base of the tongue in adults

The lymphoid follicles at the base of the tongue can be detected when examining the pharynx of adults, but the presence of large follicles, denoted “severe” hypertrophy of the base of the tongue (HBT) is rare. The objective of the present study was to identify severe HBT cases and their symptoms and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery 2004-10, Vol.131 (4), p.378-382
Main Authors: Mamede, Rui Celso Martins, De Mello-Filho, Francisco Veríssimo, Dantas, Roberto Oliveira
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Female
Gastroesophageal Reflux - etiology
Humans
Hypertrophy
Larynx - pathology
Larynx - physiopathology
Middle Aged
Pharynx - pathology
Pharynx - physiopathology
Radiography
Tongue - diagnostic imaging
Tongue - pathology
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Summary:The lymphoid follicles at the base of the tongue can be detected when examining the pharynx of adults, but the presence of large follicles, denoted “severe” hypertrophy of the base of the tongue (HBT) is rare. The objective of the present study was to identify severe HBT cases and their symptoms and to correlate them with the presence of pharyngolaryngeal signs and esophageal symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in patients seen at a laryngology clinic. Severe HBT was considered to be present when the follicles prevented the view of the epiglottis or were massively distributed through the pharynx and larynx. Five cases of severe HBT were detected among 306 patients submitted to videolaryngoscopy over a period of 2 years, corresponding to 1.6% (5/306) of the total sample studied. However, this index markedly increases to 4% (4/101) among patients with pharyngolaryngeal signs of GER and reached 7.5% (4/53) among patients presenting GER symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, retrosternal burning feeling, and dysphagia. The complaints due to severe HBT were noisy respiration, hoarseness, throat clearing, dry cough, globus pharyngeus, and nasal voice. We conclude that the frequency of hypertrophied follicles is increased in the presence of signs and symptoms of GER and those HBT symptoms are confused with those of GER, except for nasal voice and noisy respiration.
ISSN:0194-5998
1097-6817
DOI:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.040