Quantitative Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Tonsil Volume and Its Anthropometric Determinants in adults

Ayesha  Mehwish; Ambreen Usmani; Huma Azmat; Shazia Alam; Fatima Rehman; Syed Bilal Yousuf  Ghaznavi

doi:10.36283/ziun-pjmd15-1/026

Authors

Ayesha Mehwish Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi
Ambreen Usmani Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi
Huma Azmat Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi
Shazia Alam PNS Shifa Hospital/ BUHSC, Karachi
Fatima Rehman Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi
Syed Bilal Yousuf Ghaznavi Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36283/ziun-pjmd15-1/026

Keywords:

body mass index, Epwoth sleepiness scale, obstructive sleep apnea, palatine tonsils, ultrasound

Abstract

Background

To investigate the impact of demographic, anthropometric, and clinical factors such as age, gender, BMI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and neck circumference on tonsil hypertrophy using ultrasonographic assessment.

Method:

The present cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi from January to July 2021. Fifty-four adults aged 18-60 with enlarged tonsils participated. Exclusion criteria included ages outside this range, trauma, surgical tonsil excision, pregnancy, and lactation. Participants provided informed consent and principal investigator completed a proforma taking demographic data, physical examination, Brodsky tonsil grading, ESS scoring, BMI calculation, and neck circumference measurement. Ultrasonographic assessment of tonsil volume was performed using a Toshiba Aplio 500 machine with a 13.6 MHz probe. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM© SPSS© version 23, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results

The mean age of participants was calculated to be 25.72 ± 7.9 years, with 29 males and 25 females. Significant associations were found between tonsil volume and gender, neck circumference, BMI, and ESS scores. Females and individuals with larger neck circumferences or higher BMI had significantly larger tonsil volumes. Higher ESS scores correlated with increased tonsil volume, suggesting a link between daytime sleepiness and tonsil hypertrophy.

Conclusion

Ultrasonographic assessment showed significant links between tonsil volume and gender, neck circumference, BMI, and ESS scores, suggesting ultrasound and neck circumference measurements as effective tools for diagnosing enlarged tonsils. Further research with larger, diverse populations is needed.

Author Biographies

Ayesha Mehwish, Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi

Department of anatomy
Ambreen Usmani, Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi

Department of Anatomy
Huma Azmat, Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi

Department of anatomy
Shazia Alam, PNS Shifa Hospital/ BUHSC, Karachi

Department of Radiology
Fatima Rehman, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi

Department of Anatomy
Syed Bilal Yousuf Ghaznavi, Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi

Department of Anatomy

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