title: Evaluation of iron and zinc levels in recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to look into the roles of iron and zinc metals in etiopathogenesis of recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy by evaluating the levels of iron and zinc elements in the palatine tonsillar tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 40 patients who underwent a tonsillectomy to treat recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy were included in the study. Patients were classified into two groups, recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy, determined by the results of clinical and histopathological examination. The levels of iron and zinc elements were determined for each tonsillar tissue sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the iron and zinc concentrations (p<0.001) between the tonsillar hypertrophy and recurrent tonsillitis groups. The levels of iron and zinc were significantly lower in the recurrent tonsillitis group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that low tissue concentrations of iron and zinc may lead to recurrent tonsillitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey. Electronic address: btahsin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Battal Tahsin
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Somuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sapmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ahi Evran University School of Medicine, Kırşehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soyalıç
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamanoğlu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Arts of Chemistry, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Durali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendil
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Akgül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arici
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gurbuzler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc