Giant tonsillolith causing odynophagia in a child: a rare case report

Abstract

Giant tonsillolith is a rare clinical entity. Commonly, it occurs between 20-77 years of age. We had a twelve years old female patient, who had odynophagia due to a giant tonsillolith. The stone was removed and tonsillectomy was performed. We reviewed the literature on this rare clinical entity and found that this is the fourth case of giant tonsillolith in a child and largest ever tonsillolith to be reported in English literature.

Comparison of Panoramic Radiography and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for the Detection of Tonsilloliths

“…Clinically, these calcifications may be associated with halitosis, odynophagia, otalgia, and upper airway obstruction. Symptomatic or larger tonsillar calcifications should be removed [1,[7][8][9][10][11].…”

Palatine Tonsilloliths: A Retrospective Study on 500 Digital Panoramic Radiographs

“…However, large symptomatic calcifications may be superinfected causing peritonsillar abscess and need to be removed surgically (enucleation or even tonsillectomy). 2,[13][14][15][16] Since there are no radiological studies investigating palatine tonsilloliths in Lebanon, this study aimed to evaluate this type of calcifications in a Lebanese sample through digital panoramic radiographs.…”

Upper airway obstruction caused by bilateral giant tonsilloliths

“…The most common hypothesis is repeated tonsillitis; it leads to deposition of epithelial debris and forms a suitable environment for bacteria, fungus, or actinomycosis to survive. 2,3 After repeated infection, inorganic salts from the saliva form the major content of tonsillolith and embed over peritonsillar space or lateral pharyngeal wall.…”