Electron-microscope observations on the tonsillar epithelium in children with recurrent tonsillitis.
Twenty tonsils from children aged 3-6 years removed by operation due to recurrent tonsillitis have been examined. Electron-microscope observations of the epithelial layer have shown a lowering of the number and a reduction of the tubulo-vesicular system of the M-cells. The squamous stratified epithelium is predominating; it is keratinized in some places. Lymphocytes in an active phase and vascular activity in the parenchyma of the removed tonsils are very rare to observe; these were seen only in relation with the M-cells. The above-mentioned data may serve to prove Surjan Jr.'s 1980 hypothesis on the key-importance of metaplastic change of the tonsillar epithelium in recurrent tonsillitis pathogenesis.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012008:Recurrence; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000473:pathology*