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Adenoid hypertrophy
How to treat adenoid hypertrophy?
Adenoid hypertrophy mainly occurs in infants and children. It is a congenital disease, meaning that most children are born with varying degrees of adenoid hypertrophy. However, in many children, the adenoids begin to shrink after six months and generally do not cause symptoms. If the adenoids are enlarged, it can lead to the child breathing through their mouth, snoring, and gasping, which may cause facial changes, brain hypoxia, and delayed brain development. In such cases, adenoidectomy might be considered, generally performed under general anesthesia. However, some children with adenoid hypertrophy also have enlarged tonsils, so both surgeries are often performed together. Otherwise, if only the adenoid hypertrophy is treated without addressing enlarged tonsils, problems such as mouth breathing and snoring may not improve.
What department should I go to for adenoid hypertrophy?
Glandular hypertrophy is a common condition in the field of otolaryngology, so for glandular hypertrophy, one should consult the otolaryngology department. The glands are located at the back of the nasal cavity, specifically in the nasopharyngeal area. Thus, when the glands are enlarged, it can cause various related symptoms in the ears, nose, and throat. The most common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, snoring, mouth breathing, adenoid facies, secretory otitis media, and even suppurative otitis media. Therefore, in such cases, it is essential to visit the otolaryngology department of a hospital, undergo a nasopharyngoscopy to assess the extent of glandular hypertrophy, and decide on the appropriate treatment based on the specific diagnosis.
Will adenoid hypertrophy recur after surgery?
The adenoid is a normal lymphoid organ in the nasopharyngeal area of the human body. Enlargement of the adenoids can block the nasal cavity, leading to otitis media, snoring during sleep, and other symptoms. The main treatment for enlarged adenoids is surgery. Since the adenoids do not have a complete capsule, there is a certain chance of recurrence after surgery. There are two scenarios for recurrence: one is a mild, localized proliferation that does not cause symptoms such as snoring or otitis media again; the other is a severe enlargement of the adenoids, leading to the reoccurrence of spontaneous conditions like snoring and otitis media. This latter situation accounts for about 0.5% of cases. Therefore, while there is a certain rate of recurrence after adenoidectomy, the rate of recurrence is relatively low.
What tests are needed for adenoid hypertrophy?
The adenoids are located at the back end of the nasal cavity in the nasopharyngeal area, so the examination needed for adenoid hypertrophy is generally the electronic nasopharyngoscopy. Electronic nasopharyngoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows direct visual observation of the enlarged adenoids and the blockage of the posterior nasal apertures. Modern electronic nasopharyngoscopes are very thin; they can be inserted through the nostrils directly into the nasopharynx, providing a clear view of the adenoids with minimal discomfort and no radiation exposure, making it the preferred method. Another test that can be performed is a lateral X-ray of the nasopharynx. This examination has been a classic approach and is available in many township and county hospitals. It can accurately display the condition of adenoid hypertrophy and any airway obstruction. However, the only drawback is that it involves some level of radiation exposure.
Does adenoid hypertrophy always require surgery?
Is surgery necessary for adenoid hypertrophy? The answer is not necessarily. Adenoid hypertrophy is generally caused by acute rhinitis, tonsillitis, or acute epidemic influenza, among other factors. These factors can lead to the rapid proliferation and enlargement of the adenoids, which may compress the tissues of the nasal cavity, causing nasal obstruction or sinusitis. In such cases, it depends on the symptoms triggered and how significant the impact is on the patient. If the symptoms are not particularly severe, some non-surgical treatments can be adopted, such as enhancing the body's own disease resistance. Oral medications for clearing heat and detoxifying, and if necessary, traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis can be used to adjust the condition. If the enlargement of the adenoids is significantly alleviated with these medicinal treatments, surgery may not be necessary. However, if the disease is not well-controlled and severely affects breathing or swallowing, surgical treatment may be considered.
Adenoid hypertrophy is what?
The adenoid is a lymphoepithelial tissue located in our nasopharynx, and it has certain immune functions. Under the stimulation of various factors such as infectious or immune factors, the immune tissue and glands of the adenoid hypertrophy, leading to enlarged adenoids. Once the adenoids are enlarged, they can block our posterior nasal apertures and the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube. This, in turn, can cause us to snore, breathe through the mouth, and lead to secretory otitis media. The progression of the condition can affect our hearing, impact physical development, affect the development of the facial and jaw regions, and result in an adenoid facies. Therefore, when clinical symptoms of adenoid enlargement appear, active management is generally required, mainly surgical treatment.
How is adenoid hypertrophy surgery performed?
The adenoid is a lymphoepithelial tissue located in the nasopharyngeal region. Enlargement of the adenoid can block the nasal passages, leading to snoring and sleep apnea, often requiring surgical removal of the adenoid. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Firstly, we use a catheter to suspend the soft palate to expose the adenoid tissue. Then, using a nasal endoscope, with the right hand holding a plasma knife, the enlarged adenoid is ablated. The surgery involves inserting the nasal endoscope and adenoid knife through the mouth. The procedure is relatively short, lasting about five to ten minutes. There is very little bleeding after the surgery, making it truly a minimally invasive procedure.
Minimally invasive surgery for adenoid hypertrophy
Adenoids refer to the glands in the nasopharyngeal area. Enlarged adenoid tissues can block the nasal cavity or the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube. Clinical symptoms often require surgical removal of the adenoids. The main steps in the surgery include the following: firstly, general anesthesia is administered; secondly, the adenoids are exposed, primarily by suspending the soft palate with a catheter, followed by the insertion of a tonsil opening device; thirdly, the adenoids are gradually ablated and removed using a nasopharyngoscope and a plasma ablation knife head; finally, the surgery is concluded. After the surgery, it is necessary to continue treating the enlarged adenoids with medications such as mometasone furoate nasal spray. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
What medicine is good for adenoid hypertrophy?
The adenoids are lymphatic tissue located in the nasopharynx, and adenoid hypertrophy can be treated with some medications. Adenoid hypertrophy is often related to allergic factors or stimulation from bacterial infections. Therefore, for the treatment of adenoid hypertrophy, some medications can be used for nasal administration, such as mometasone furoate nasal spray, as well as anti-allergy medications like montelukast sodium. Additionally, some traditional Chinese medicines with aromatic properties, such as Bi Yuan Tong Qiao granules, can be used as adjunct therapy. In summary, the pharmaceutical treatment for adenoid hypertrophy is not directly targeted, and the effectiveness of medication is relatively poor, so a comprehensive evaluation of the condition should be considered when contemplating medication treatment.
The difference between adenoid hypertrophy and tonsil hypertrophy.
There is a fundamental difference between adenoid hypertrophy and tonsil hypertrophy, yet there are certain connections between them. The adenoids are located in the nasopharynx and are also a lymphoepithelial organ. The nature of adenoid hypertrophy leads to an increase in size, causing obstruction of the posterior nasal apertures and the Eustachian tubes, resulting in symptoms such as snoring and otitis media. Tonsils, on the other hand, are located in the oropharynx and their enlargement can block the oropharynx, leading to rapid breathing and obstructed breathing. It is common for tonsil hypertrophy to occur physiologically in children; clinically, it is often observed that children with tonsil hypertrophy also have adenoid hypertrophy. Both generally occur together because they are part of the internal ring of the pharyngeal lymphatic ring, which establishes a link between them. In summary, while adenoid hypertrophy and tonsil hypertrophy differ fundamentally in location and the manner of pathological changes, they are connected in certain ways.