Routine evaluation of adult tonsillectomy specimens: Toward establishing a new standard of care

Tonsil excision is a common surgery for both children and adults. Prior studies have consistently shown that the rate of malignancy in tonsil specimens is low and that the possibility of true, occult malignancy is remote. Practice trends accept triage of pediatric tonsillectomies for exemption or gross exam only. However, for adults, despite a low malignancy rate, routine histological evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens is standard of care at most health care facilities. The authors performed a retrospective review of all tonsil specimens received in their department over 45 months with categorization of pathological diagnosis and surgical indication. Of 1746 adult tonsillectomy specimens removed during this time, there were no incidental/occult malignancies. These data indicate that gross examination of adult tonsillectomy specimens excised for chronic tonsillitis or sleep apnea is sound practice, and this, taken together with other published data, provides a basis for consensus-derived practice guidelines.