title: Effectiveness of radiofrequency cryptolysis for the treatment of halitosis due to caseums.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) cryptolysis for caseum-induced halitosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Konya Training and Research Hospital in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with caseum-induced halitosis were included. Eight were male (23.5%) and 26 were female (76.5%). Their mean age was 28.29 ± 9.3 (range: 17-48) years. The mean duration of complaint of halitosis before RF cryptolysis was 53.41 ± 42.6 months (range: 6-182 months). The Finkelstein test, organoleptic measurements, and visual analog scale (VAS) were performed before and 12 months after RF cryptolysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before RF cryptolysis, all patients had a positive Finkelstein's test result, organoleptic measurements revealed that three (8.82%) had serious halitosis, 24 (70.58%) had average halitosis, and seven (20.58%) had mild halitosis, and the mean VAS score was 6.82 ± 1.45. The follow-up period after RF cryptolysis was 12 months. After the single RF cryptolysis session, 26 patients (76.47%) were negative for Finkelstein's test, organoleptic assessments revealed that 26 (76.47%), six (17.64%), and two (5.88%) showed complete, partial, and no recovery, respectively, (p<0.001), and the mean VAS score was significantly better at 1.88 ± 2.5 (p<0.001). Thirty-two patients (94.1%) exhibited a decrease in VAS score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RF cryptolysis is a cost-effective, safe, and easily applicable modality for the treatment of halitosis due to caseums in the crypts of the palatine tonsils.
authors.affiliation: Konya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: nurdoganata@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Nurdoğan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ata
authors.affiliation: Konya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: gultekinovet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gültekin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ovet
authors.affiliation: Konya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: necat66@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Necat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alataş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult