Investigation of Helicobacter Pylori Colonization in Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Specimens using Campylobacter Like Organism Test

Cho, Kyu Sup; Wang, Soo Geun; Lee, Byung Joo; Lee, Jin Chun; Lee, Hyun Sun; Goh, Eui Kyung

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Helicobacter pylori infection is strongly associated with chronic gastritis and ulcer disease and is a risk factor for gastric carcinoma and primary gastric B-cell lymphoma. Palatine tonsils and adenoids are a component of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and represent an extragastric reservoir for H. pylori infection. This study was designed to find out the settling frequency of H. pylori in tonsil and adenoid tissues by Compylobacter like organism (CLO) test on tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy specimens in Koreans. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We reviewed the records of 52 patients aged 3 to 51 who had undergone an adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenotonsillectomy procedure under local or general anesthesia. Two millimeter diameter tissue pieces had been obtained from each adenoid and tonsil specimens were placed in CLO test kit. Color changes were noted after 20 minutes and after periods of 1, 3, and 24 hours. RESULTS: Thirty three (63.5%) of the 52 patients were shown to be H. pylori positive. H. pylori positive rate was not significantly different according to operation methods, age and sex. H. pylori positive rate in tonsil specimens (62.7%) was significantly higher than that in adenoid specimens (17.6%)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This results suggest that palatine tonsils represent an extragastric reservoir for H. pylori infection. Tonsillectomy may be associated with decreased prevalence of H. pylori colonization. Further study is needed about correlation between H. pylori colonization in tonsil and H. pylori associated gastric disease.