SPONTANEOUS TONSILLAR HEMORRHAGE - AN UNDERDIAGNOSED CONDITION

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the clinical profil e of patients diagnosed with spontaneous tonsillar hemorrhage (STH). M ethod: We conducted a retrospective review of all cases presenting wit h tonsillar hemorrhage at KFHU between February 1992 and January 1997. Results: Spontaneous tonsillar hemorrhage was diagnosed in four patie nts, two children and two adults, all females. Spontaneous tonsillar h emorrhage was associated with an acute febrile illness in the children . A bleeding ulcer was suspicious of malignancy in one adult, and no u nderlying cause was found in the other. All had tonsillectomy and hist ologically proven sepsis. Conclusions: Spontaneous tonsillar hemorrhag e is an uncommon emergency complication of tonsillar sepsis. Awareness of the condition by practising otolaryngologists will reduce unwarran ted prolonged invasive investigations. Tonsillectomy is the definitive mode of treatment.