Adenoid enlargement assessment by plain X-ray & Nasoendoscopy

Abstract

Back ground: The adenoid is a mass of lymphoid tissue embedded in the mucosal membrane of the nasopharynx. The aim: The aim of the study was to clarify the accuracy of both lateral post nasal space X - ray and nasoendoscope in evaluation of the adenoid size. Patients and Methods: This study included (150) patients with symptoms of upper airway obstruction. All of them evaluated clinically, by lateral plain X-ray of the soft tissue of nasopharynx and nasoendoscope to determine the size of the adenoid, All patients were seen and examined in the outpatient clinic of E.N.T Department of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from January 2009-January 2010. Results: The highest incidence of large adenoid was seen in 3-5 years old patients (60%) while the lowest incidence was seen in 9-12 years old patients (18%) with male: female ratio as 1.1:1.Conclusions and Recommendations: Evaluation by endoscope was highly accurate than evaluation by X – ray. Hence, children with classical symptoms of upper respiratory tract obstruction, even without adenoid hypertrophy revealed by X - ray, suggested to be submitted to nasoendoscope for diagnostic accuracy, which is greatly relevant especially for more secure indication of adenoidectomy and help in avoiding unnecessary operation.Key words: Adenoid hypertrophy. X-ray of the nasopharynx. Nasoendoscope.