Pharynx

“Articles / Chapters” provides a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of otolaryngology. These articles are mainly intended for use by medical professionals.

Tonsillectomy – Indications, Contraindications and Complications

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the complete removal of both palatine tonsils from the back of the throat. This operation is primarily performed to treat recurrent tonsillitis, throat […]
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Retropharyngeal Abscess – Clinical Presentation and Treatment

Retropharyngeal abscess is a potentially life-threatening condition, when infection tracts to lymphoid tissue between posterior pharyngeal wall and prevertebral fascia. Anatomy of Retropharyngeal space The retropharyngeal space lies immediately posterior […]
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Parapharyngeal Abscess

Parapharyngeal abscess is a life-threatening infection, due to spread of infection to the parapharyngeal space. Epidemiology Can occur in any age group Most common causes are tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, dental […]
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Parapharyngeal Space Anatomy and Clinical Importance

Parapharyngeal space (PPS) is a potential space filled with fat and areolar tissue, lying laterally on either side of pharynx, bounded and subdivided by various condensation of fascia. It is […]
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Peritonsillar abscess / Quinsy – Clinical presentation and Treatment

Peritonsillar abscess commonly known as Quinsy is localized collections of pus in the peritonsillar space usually occurs as a complication of acute tonsillitis. Peritonsillar space fibrous capsule of palatine tonsils […]
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Acute Tonsillitis – Clinical presentation and Treatment

Acute tonsillitis is an inflammatory condition of tonsil lasting less than 3 weeks duration. The tonsils are composed of lymphatic tissue and are a component of Waldeyer’s ring in the […]
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Anatomy and Physiology of Tonsils

Tonsils are a pair of small, soft tissue masses located at the back of the throat, one on each side. Scientifically, tonsils are part of the lymphatic system and are […]
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Waldeyer’s ring

Waldeyer’s ring is a ring of lymphoid tissue surrounding the nasopharynx and oropharynx. These are sites of first immunological contact for antigens in childhood. These are also called nasal-associated lymphoid tissue […]
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What are adenoids? Adenoid Hypertrophy, Clinical features and Adenoidectomy

Adenoids are a subepithelial collection of lymphoid tissue, which is present at the junction of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx. They increase in size up to the […]
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Tornwaldt cyst – Clinical presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment

Tornwaldt cysts also spelled as Thornwaldt cyst or Thornwald cyst are benign, midline cystic swelling located in the roof of nasopharynx. It is also known as Pharyngeal bursa (Luschka Bursa). The […]
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Does my child need tonsillectomy? – Indications for pediatric tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure performed with or without adenoidectomy that completely removes the tonsil, including its capsule, by dissecting the peritonsillar space between the tonsil capsule and the muscular […]
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Clinical practice guidelines for tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is the second most commonly performed surgery in the United States with more than 5,30,000 procedures performed on children younger than 15 years each year. Although tonsillectomy is a […]
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Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VI) is the inability to temporarily close the connection between nasopharynx and oropharynx, due to an anatomical dysfunction in soft palate (velum), lateral pharyngeal wall or posterior pharyngeal […]
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Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a life-threatening acute bacterial infectious condition caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The usual site of infection is the tonsils and oropharynx, but the disease can occur in nasal cavities, larynx or […]
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