title: Tonsillar regrowth following partial tonsillectomy with radiofrequency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess regrowth potential of the tonsils following partial tonsillectomy performed by using radiofrequency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up results of 42 children (aged from 1 to 10 years) who consecutively had partial tonsillectomy with radiofrequency due to obstructive sleep apnea or snoring were evaluated for regrowth of the tonsils.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regrowth of the remaining tonsillar tissue was observed in 7 of 42 patients (16.6%). The upper respiratory tract obstruction symptoms recurred in 5 of these 7 patients while the remaining 2 patients were asymptomatic. The tonsils of symptomatic patients were removed completely.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partial tonsillectomy may have a significant potential for regrowth and thereby recurrence of the obstructive symptoms. Although the cause of this regrowth remains unknown, this problem should be remembered by the surgeons, and an informed consent should be obtained from the families prior to radiofrequency tonsillotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Konya yolu, Besevler, 06500 Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey. fcelenk@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celenk
authors.forename: Yildirim A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Bayazit
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Yusuf K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kemaloglu
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uygur
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korkuyu
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*