title: A study to detect Helicobacter pylori in adenotonsillar tissue.
abstract: We conducted a prospective study to investigate the possibility of Helicobacter pylori colonization on tonsillar and adenoid tissues. Our study group was made up of 84 consecutively presenting children aged 4 to 12 years who had undergone adenotonsillectomy or adenoidectomy with or without ventilation tube insertion. The excised specimens were analyzed by rapid urease testing and histopathologic examination to detect H pylori. Histologic sections were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and Giemsa staining as performed in routine gastric biopsies. We found no H pylori colonization in any specimen. Therefore, we consider the possibility of H pylori colonization of adenotonsillar tissue unlikely, even though the authors of some recent studies have reported such a finding. Other means of detecting possible H pylori colonization in the upper aerodigestive tract rely on invasive biopsy procedures, which are difficult to use in clinical practice. Therefore, on the basis of our findings and our review of the literature, we conclude that looking for H pylori in the upper aerodigestive tract is not only clinically useless, but damaging, as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, M. Saadettin Sokak, Saadet Apartmani, No:3 D:4, Ortaköy/Beşiktaş Istanbul, PK: 34347, Turkey. semazertoros@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sema Zer
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Toros
authors.forename: Ahmet Burak
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Toros
authors.forename: Kerem Sami
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Ildem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Özel
authors.forename: Bariş
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naiboğlu
authors.forename: Tülay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Habeşoğlu
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Egeli
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014510:Urease / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014510:Urease