TREATMENT OF LINGUAL TONSILLITIS BY TRANSORAL CO2-LASER ENDOSCOPY

The authors report on their clinical experiences concerning 100 cases of chronic lingual tonsillitis. The surgical treatment employed was en doscopic vaporization of affected tissues with the CO2 laser. Prior to surgical intervention, predisposing conditions such as allergy, rhino sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux were identified and treated. Th e surgical technique consisted of progressive vaporization of the lymp hoid tissue at the base of the tongue until the lingual fascia was rea ched. A slightly defocused (700 mm) continuous 10-15 W laser beam was used at a working distance of 400 mm. Following surgery, no dyspnea wa s observed secondary to epiglottic edema and only one patient required postoperative hemostasis. Symptoms related to tonsil or tongue inflam mation were eliminated or alleviated in 87 patients, remained unchange d in 12 patients and were worse in 1 patient.