title: Utility of tonsillectomy in 2 patients with the syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the various causes of period fever in childhood, including the syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA), and to examine the value of tonsillectomy in the treatment of PFAPA syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban and tertiary care referral children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients who underwent tonsillectomy for presumed recurrent adenotonsillitis were later diagnosed as having PFAPA syndrome. Intervention Tonsillectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of PFAPA symptoms before and after tonsillectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference was found in the frequency of PFAPA symptoms after tonsillectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a larger series of patients is required, our initial experience suggests that tonsillectomy is not always beneficial for patients with PFAPA syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjay R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: Evan R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kenna
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D010507:Periodicity; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013577:Syndrome; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome