Pharyngeal tonsillar hypertrophy

The adenoids are situated on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx in young children.

They begin to atrophy at about 6 years of age and have disappeared completely by the age of about 15.

However if a young child - between 1 and 4 years - suffers recurrent upper respiratory tract infection they may hypertrophy and become symptomatic because of consequent nasal and eustachian tube obstruction.

Treatment if indicated is adenoidectomy

Notes:

• lymphoid tissue known as the adenoids or the pharyngeal tonsils occupies the posterosuperior surface of the nasopharynx and is part of a larger collection of lymphoid tissue known as Waldeyer's ring.

Reference:

• 1) The Tonsils and Pharynx. Authors Grist WJ. Editors In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Source Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 132.