Multidetector computed tomography imaging characteristics of asymptomatic palatine tonsilloliths: a retrospective study on 3886 examinations

Publication date: Available online 31 January 2018
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Mi-Jin Kim, Jo-Eun Kim, Kyung-Hoe Huh, Won-Jin Yi, Min-Suk Heo, Sam-Sun Lee, Soon-Chul Choi
ObjectiveThis study aims to estimate the prevalence of palatine tonsilloliths and analyze their multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging features.Study DesignThe CT images of 3886 subjects (1654 men, 2232 women; mean age of 35.8 years) were reviewed. The distribution, dimension, morphology, and location of each tonsillolith was assessed. The correlation between subject demographics and the characteristics (prevalence, number, size) of tonsilloliths was determined.ResultsThe prevalence of palatine tonsilloliths was 30.3%, the prevalence and size showed significant difference between men and women. The prevalence of tonsilloliths significantly increased with age (p<0.001). The mean number of tonsilloliths per subject was 2.7, and 64.7% of subjects had 1–2 tonsilloliths. Ovoid-shaped tonsilloliths were the most frequent (approximately 80%). The centers of the tonsillar crypts contained the majority of the tonsilloliths, 50.3% of which had sizes of 1-2 mm.ConclusionThe results, based on a larger sample size compared to previous studies, can be applied as guidelines for the diagnosis of tonsilloliths on CT images.



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