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Are Differences In The Size Of The Right And Left Side Of The Tonsil Normal?
Question: Hello doctor. As far as I can remember, maybe a year or so, I have noticed that my right tonsil is bigger/different than my left one. I have regular check ups and physicals and no doctor has mentioned anything about it. I have no other signs or symptoms besides sore throats once in a while. I have attached a picture of my tonsils. Does anything look out of the ordinary ?
Brief Answer:
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1. This image of your throat appears to be fine. There is normally a difference in the appearance of the tonsils. This difference is also evident during a tonsillectomy, a procedure that I have performed on thousands of patients over the last two decades.
2. One of the tonsils may appear larger, even double the size of the other without any symptoms. The larger tonsil will usually have a shallow tonsil bed/ fossa. The smaller one is usually deeper set. Hence they are usually similar in actual size.
3. The larger upper normal tonsillar crypt (crypta magna) on your left tonsil makes the left tonsil appear smaller. One possibility is that the crypt is blocked and swollen on the right side.
4. You seem to have chronic pharyngitis and tonsillitis. If there are more than 5-6 attacks of tonsillitis per year over 2-3 years, tonsillectomy may be considered.
5. Tonsil cancer is very rare. Infection with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) types 16 and 18 should be ruled out. These viral subtypes are linked with Oropharyngeal Cancer.
6. With a regular follow up, Tonsil tumors will not be missed.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Sumit Bhatti, ENT Specialist
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1. This image of your throat appears to be fine. There is normally a difference in the appearance of the tonsils. This difference is also evident during a tonsillectomy, a procedure that I have performed on thousands of patients over the last two decades.
2. One of the tonsils may appear larger, even double the size of the other without any symptoms. The larger tonsil will usually have a shallow tonsil bed/ fossa. The smaller one is usually deeper set. Hence they are usually similar in actual size.
3. The larger upper normal tonsillar crypt (crypta magna) on your left tonsil makes the left tonsil appear smaller. One possibility is that the crypt is blocked and swollen on the right side.
4. You seem to have chronic pharyngitis and tonsillitis. If there are more than 5-6 attacks of tonsillitis per year over 2-3 years, tonsillectomy may be considered.
5. Tonsil cancer is very rare. Infection with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) types 16 and 18 should be ruled out. These viral subtypes are linked with Oropharyngeal Cancer.
6. With a regular follow up, Tonsil tumors will not be missed.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Sumit Bhatti, ENT Specialist
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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