ABSTRACT
Enlargement of palatinar tonsils in the course of chronic inflammatory process has been thought till now to reflect pronounced lymphocyte proliferation even if such mechanism fails to explain the persistent increase in size of the organ. The studies were performed on 92 tonsils obtained from 4 to 16 years old children in whom the tonsils were removed due to chronic inflammatory processes in upper respiratory tract or in ears. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry and by image analysis. The data show that apoptosis in the tonsils is accompanying lymphocyte proliferation in the course of chronic inflammatory process. Evaluation of homeostasis in palatine tonsils could be helpful in referring children for tonsillectomy. Imagine analysis may objectivize and specify diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis.
