Iron and zinc levels in tonsil of the patients with tonsillar hypertrophy or chronic tonsillitis / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To study the roles of iron and zinc in the pathogenesis of recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.METHODS In total,40 patients who underwent a tonsillectomy to treat chronic tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy were included in the study.Patients were divided into 2 groups,chronic tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy group.The levels of iron and zinc elements were measured for each tonsillar tissue sample.RESULTS There was a significant difference in the iron and zinc level (P＜0.001) between the tonsillar hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis groups.The levels of iron and zinc were significantly lower in the chronic tonsillitis group.CONCLUSION The results suggest that low tissue concentration of iron and zinc may lead to chronic tonsillitis.