Tonsillolith: a report of three clinical cases.
Tonsillolith is a rare dystrophic calcification as a result of chronic inflammation of the tonsils. Three asymptomatic cases of tonsillolith are reported, incidentally discovered through panoramic radiographs, which showed different sizes of radiopaque images, varying from 2 to 5 mm; cases I and III images did not overlap the mandible ramus, which led to a probable diagnosis of soft tissue calcification. Case II had radiopaque unilateral images, with osseous tissue density, overlapping the mandibular ramus, leading to a benign intra-osseous lesion, which was considered as differential diagnosis. No symptoms were reported in any case. Only case I had clinical characteristics, showing highly consistent white plaques partially visible through the mucosa. Computed tomography of the maxillofacial region/head and neck were requested to find out the exact location of these images, since most of the overlapping radiopaque images in the mandibular ramus were very similar to intra-osseous abnormalities. The computed tomography showed hyperdense images in the palatine tonsils, confirming the diagnosis of tonsillolith. The patients are currently under follow-up. No treatment is required if there is no symptom. In conclusion, tonsillolith might show images on panoramic radiographs similar to intra osseous abnormalities. The diagnosis is relatively easy when computed tomography is requested, although the images are not pathognomonic. Therefore, clinicians should consider other pathologies as differential diagnosis.
de Moura
Mariela Dura Gontijo
MD
Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6.627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Madureira
Davidson Fróis
DF
Noman-Ferreira
Luiz Cláudio
LC
Abdo
Evandro Neves
EN
de Aguiar
Evandro Guimarães
EG
Freire
Addah Regina da Silva
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002137:Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic