Complaints:
48 years old female patient came with complaints of:
- Pain in the throat - 2 months
- Foul breath - 6 months
- Pain while swallowing - 2 months
History:
- She gave history of repeated attacks of tonsillar infections - 3 years
On examination:
Tonsillolith could be seen in the right intratonsillar cleft. The upper pole of right tonsil was bulging.
Image showing tonsillolith
Management:
Unilateral tonsillectomy was performed and the calcified mass was removed.
Discussion:
Tonsillolith is a rare condition. Small areas of calcification are commonly seen while sectioning a tonsillectomy
specimen. Large calcified mass within the tonsil (tonsillolith) is a relatively rare phenomenon.
Pathogenesis of tonsillolith is still unknown. It has been attributed to recurrent infections of tonsillar tissue
and accumulation of infected material within the crypta magna. This accumulated material initiates foreign body
reaction and dystrophic calcification. Tonsillolith may also arise due to stasis in the ducts of accessory salivary
glands. This could commonly be caused due to obstruction to the ducts of accessory salivary glands due to post tonsillectomy scar tissue or infection.
Usually deposition of calcium salts (Calcium phosphate) occurs normally in the skeleton. When calcification occurs
in soft tissues in an unorganized fashion it is known as heterotopic calcification. This heterotopic calcification
can be further subdivided into three categories:
Metastatic calcification: This calcification occurs in normal tissues due to deposition of calcium. This is the result
of higher than normal levels of serum calcium as in the case of hyperparathyroidism or higher levels of serum phosphate
as in patients with chronic renal failure. Metastatic calcification usually occurs bilaterally and symmetrically.
Idiopathic calcification: This condition refers to deposition of calcium in normal tissue despite normal serum levels
of calcium and phosphate. Examples include chondrocalcinosis and phleboliths.
Dystrophic calcification: Is pathologic and usually occurs in degenerative and dead tissues. This calcification occurs
despite normal serum calcium and phosphate levels.
Tonsillolith is usually an incidental finding. Patients may report
1. Foul breath
2. Pain in the thorat
3. Cervical lymphadenopathy (involving upper deep cervical lymph node)
Microscopy: Microscopic examination of the tonsillolith shows necrotic debris, ghost cells, calcifications and
inflammatory cells.
Tonsillolith may occur in any age group. Tonsilloliths are usually hard in consistency, may be single or multiple,
may be round or oval, cylinderical or irregular pyramidal shape.
Usually tonsillolith contains minerals like carbonates and phosphonates of calcium. Other minerals like magnesium,
sodium, silica, potassium, ammonia have been reported.