title: A comparison between amylase levels from peritonsillar, dental and neck abscesses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pus of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) contains very high amylase levels in some patients. The objective of this study was to further test this finding and to check whether high amylase levels in peritonsillar abscess originate from contamination by saliva during aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study includes 64 patients with PTA, 8 patients with a neck abscess and 12 patients with a dental abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amylase levels of pus and serum were compared between the groups. Clinical data regarding hospitalisation length, recurrence rate and previous antibiotic treatment were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean amylase levels in the pus of the PTA group were 3045 U/L (median 59 U/L), 13 U/L in the neck abscess group (P = 0.001) and 22 U/L in the dental abscess group (P = 0.001). Mean serum amylase was higher in the PTA group; PTA - 50 U/L, neck abscess - 37 U/L (P = 0.002) and dental abscess - 26 U/L (P < 0.002). All of the patients with amylase levels above 65 U/L had a first episode of PTA. In contrast, 40% of patients with amylase lower than 65 U/L had recurrent PTA (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A clear association is seen between minor salivary glands and peritonsillar abscess. The high amylase level in peritonsillar pus is not from contamination with saliva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El-Saied
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zlotnik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu Tailakh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kordeluk
authors.forename: B-Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Joshua
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000201:enzymology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013492:Suppuration / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000681:Amylases