title: Spontaneous tonsillar haemorrhage due to von Willebrand's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report a case of spontaneous tonsillar haemorrhage due to underlying von Willebrand's disease, without symptoms or signs of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report and literature review of reported causes of spontaneous tonsillar haemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spontaneous tonsillar haemorrhage is uncommon. Acute bacterial tonsillitis, peri-tonsillar abscess, infectious mononucleosis and idiopathic causes have been reported. Two cases of tonsillitis with underlying bleeding disorders have been reported. We present the first reported case of spontaneous tonsillar haemorrhage secondary to von Willebrand's disease, without evidence of tonsillitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spontaneous tonsillar haemorrhage is usually related to infection of the tonsils or peri-tonsillar space. An underlying bleeding disorder should be suspected if no evidence of infection is found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: D L Y
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Hasselt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000601:surgery*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005169:Factor VIII