Relationship between the presence of tonsilloliths and halitosis in patients with chronic caseous tonsillitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) halitometry profile in a population with chronic caseous tonsillitis (CCT) and halitosis and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of a tonsillolith and abnormal halitometry in this population.


METHODS
Clinical prospective non-randomised study.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients with halitosis and CCT, 17 male (35%) and 32 female (65%), were selected among patients referred for CO(2) laser cryptolysis. Anamnesis, physical examination and VSC halitometry were carried out. Halitometry values less than 150 ppb of VSC were considered normal.


RESULTS
Patients were divided in two groups: Group A - normal halitometry (41 patients - 83.7%) and Group B - abnormal halitometry (8 patients - 16.3%). Halitometry results in Group B were 5.2 times (429%) higher than in Group A and the majority of the patients with abnormal halitometry presented with a tonsillolith at the moment of examination. A tonsillolith was present in 75% of the patients with abnormal halitometry and only 6% of patients with normal halitometry values.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of a tonsillolith represents a tenfold increased risk of abnormal VSC halitometry and can be considered as a predictable factor for abnormal halitometry in patients with CCT.
Dental Surgeon/Doctoral Student in Medical Sciences, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil.
A C Dal
AC
Rio
A R
AR
Franchi-Teixeira
E M D
EM
Nicola
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002137:Calculi / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications*
D013457:Sulfur Compounds