title: Histopathological analysis of tonsillectomy specimens: a report from Southeastern Anatolia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the necessity of routine histopathological analyses of tonsillectomy specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review for 2,004 patients (1,048 males, 956 females; mean age 12.2 years; range 2 to 60 years) who underwent tonsillectomy between January 2009 and May 2013 was carried out at the Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. Tonsillectomy specimens were fixed with formalin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin before being sectioned and examined via light microscope. Chronic inflammation and lymphoid hyperplasia were considered non-significant pathological findings. Other pathological diagnoses including infectious processes, and benign and malignant neoplasms were regarded as significant pathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-significant pathological findings -chronic inflammation, lymphoid hyperplasia or both- were observed in 1,972 patients. Significant pathological findings -epidermal cyst, mucocele, squamous papilloma, granuloma and squamous cell carcinoma- were observed in 32 patients. One patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, and another had granulomatous disease diagnosed as tuberculosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histopathological examination is only necessary for patients with preoperative risk factors. Gross examination may be a good alternative since it is cost effective and not time consuming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Dumlupınar University, 43270 Kütahya, Turkey. isaozbay@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Özbay
authors.forename: Metehan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gençoğlu
authors.forename: Hasan Hüseyin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Balıkçı
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kucur
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oğhan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology*; D010212:Papilloma / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014421:Turkey; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde