The adenoids are masses of lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx. They develop fully by the 7th month in utero and typically undergo involution by puberty. The adenoids play an important role in immune function but can become infected or hypertrophied, causing nasal obstruction and other symptoms. Surgical removal (adenoidectomy) using curettes or newer techniques like coblation is recommended if symptoms persist despite medical management with antibiotics or nasal steroids. Complications are rare but can include hemorrhage, airway issues, or velopharyngeal dysfunction.

1. Dr Rajesh Kar
MBBS, MS, DNB

2. Synonym: Nasopharyngeal
tonsil
• Adenoids is the
hypertrophied mass of
lymphoid tissue situated at
the junction of roof & post.
wall of nasopharynx.
• The mass of lymphoid
tissue is termed as
Adenoids only when it is
hypertrophied.
• It usually undergoes atrophy
by puberty (13-14 yrs)

3. • Pink, globular mass
• Vertical ridges on its
surface
• No crypts
• Lined by ciliated
columnar epithelium
• No capsule

4. • The formation of the adenoids begins in the 3rd month
of fetal development. This starts with glandular
primordia in the posterior nasopharynx becoming
associated with infiltrating lymphocytes.
• In the 5th month sagittal folds are formed which are
the beginnings of pharyngeal crypts. The surface is
covered with pseudostratified ciliated epithelium.
• By the 7th month of development the adenoids are
fully formed.

6. • Ascending palatine
branch of facial artery
• Ascending pharyngeal
artery
• Pharyngeal branch of 3rd
part of maxillary artery

7. Venous drainage is through
the pharyngeal plexus and
the pterygoid plexus
flowing ultimately into the
facial and internal jugular
veins.
•Innervation is derived from
the glossopharyngeal and
vagus nerves.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE :
Upper deep jugular nodes
• Retropharyngeal nodes
• Parapharyngeal nodes

8. • The tonsils and adenoids are part of the secondary
immune system.
• Without afferent lymphatics the lymphoid nodules
in these structures are exposed to antigen only in
the crypts of the palatine tonsils and the folds of
the adenoids where it is transported through the
epithelial layer.
• These are involved in the production of mostly
secretory IgA, which is transported to the surface
providing local immune protection.

9. Common Diseases of the Tonsils and
Adenoids
1. Acute adenoiditis/tonsillitis
2. Recurrent/chronic adenoiditis/tonsillitis
3. Obstructive hyperplasia
4. Malignancy

10. LOCAL
• B/L nasal obstruction
• Snoring
• Mouth breathing
• Rhinolalia clausa
• Frequent rhinorrhoea
• Epistaxis
• Feeding problems in
children
• Conductive deafness due to
ET block
• Cervical lymphadenopathy
• Otitis media
• Adenoids facies
• Bronchitis
GENERAL
• Anorexia
• Lethargy
• Poor physical & mental
development
• Bed-wetting
• Pigeon chest
• Protuberent abdomen

11. Recurrent acute adenoiditis is 4 or more episodes of
acute adenoiditis in a 6-month period with
intervening periods of wellness.
•Chronic adenoiditis symptoms include
• persistent rhinorrhea,
• postnasal drip,
•malodorous breath, and
• associated otitis media or extra esophageal reflux
lasting at least 3 months.

12. •Obstructive adenoid hyperplasia includes symptoms
of chronic nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, snoring,
mouth breathing, and a hyponasal voice.
•Obstructive sleep apnea in children is clinically
marked by loud snoring, apneic episodes while
sleeping, daytime somnolence, behavioral problems,
and enuresis

13. • It is the long, open
mouthed, face of children
with adenoid hypertrophy.
• The mouth is always open
because upper airway
congestion has made
patients obligatory mouth
breathers.
• The most common
presenting symptoms are
chronic mouth breathing
and snoring.
• The most dangerous
symptom is sleep apnea

14. •The characteristic facial appearance
consists of:
• Underdeveloped thin nostrils
• Short upper lip
• Prominent upper teeth
•Crowded teeth
• Narrow upper alveolus• High-arched
palate
• Hypoplastic maxilla
• Eustachian blockage causing glue ear
/deafness
• The deafness and inattentiveness
interferes with the learning
• Child grows with lowered intelligence
and understanding

15. • Sunken eyes
• Narrow pinched nostrils
• Open mouth
• High-arched palate
• Crowded teeth
• Dull mask-like face
• Protruding teeth
• Drooling saliva
• Everted upper lip
• Rhinorrhoea
• Loss of nasolabial fold

16. •Endoscopy
•Posterior rhinoscopy
•Otoscopy
•Radiological examination can also help : CT scan/x ray

17. •Posterior rhinoscopy is
done to look for lesions in
the post nasal space – for
example, adenoids,
tumors of the
nasopharynx, etc.

18. Uses:
• Examination of the post nasal space by a
procedure called posterior rhinoscopy, an
outpatient procedure.
• The mirror is warmed and introduced into
the oral cavity while the tongue is depressed
with a tongue depressor.
• The mirror is turned upwards in
order to examine the post nasal
space.
• The shaft of the instrument is bent
to achieve a bayonet shape, a
feature that helps differentiate it
from the indirect laryngoscopy
mirror.
• The mirror is available in 5 sizes.

19. • Nasopharyngoscopy is a
procedure which enables the
doctor to examine the
internal
surfaces of the nose and
throat (nasopharynx).
• Nasopharyngoscopy
provides a direct view of
every part of the upper
respiratory tract from the
nasal passages down the
throat to the larynx

20. • The main imaging study
to evaluate the adenoid is
a lateral neck
radiograph, as in the
images.

22. • CT scan is not normally used to
evaluate the adenoids.
However, when a CT scan is
performed to evaluate the
sinuses, the choana and
nasopharynx are occasionally
imaged, providing information
on the size of the adenoids
• If the adenoids look abnormal
or if a mass is present in the
nasopharynx in an older child
or in an adult, an imaging
study (eg, CT scan, MRI) is
obtained to rule out a lesion
other than an adenoid

23. MANAGEMENT
•Management options include
•wait until they involutes
•surgical removal (ADENOIDECTOMY)
•Non surgical management include intranasal
corticosteroids

24. Medical Management
• No good evidence supports any curative medical
therapy for chronic infection of the adenoids.
• Systemic antibiotics have been used long-term (ie,
6 wk) for lymphoid tissue infection, but eradication
of the bacteria failed.
• In fact, with the current trend of resistant bacteria,
the use of prophylactic or long-term antibiotics has
been decreased to prevent the formation of
resistant bacteria.

25. • Some studies indicate a benefit with using topical nasal
steroids{Fluticasone, Mometasone, Budesonide} in
children with adenoid hypertrophy.
• Studies indicate that while using the medication, the
adenoid may shrink slightly (ie, up to 10%), which may help
relieve some nasal obstruction.
• However, once the topical nasal steroid is discontinued, the
adenoid can again hypertrophy and continue to cause
symptoms.
• In a child with nasal obstructive symptoms with or without
presumed allergic rhinitis, a trial of topical nasal steroid
spray and saline spray may be considered for effective
control of symptoms.

26. • Four or more episodes of recurrent purulent rhinorrhea in prior 12
months in a child <12. One episode documented by intranasal
examination or diagnostic imaging.
• Persisting symptoms of adenoiditis after 2 courses of antibiotic
therapy.
• Sleep disturbance with nasal airway obstruction persisting for at
least 3 months.
• Hyponasal or nasal speech
• Otitis media with effusion >3 months
• Dental malocclusion or orofacial growth disturbance documented
by orthodontist.
• Cardiopulmonary complications including cor pulmonale,
pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy
associated with upper airway obstruction.

27. • A submucous cleft palate which may lead to
velopharyngeal insufficiency after surgery. If the adenoid
obstruction is severe enough, then only superior half
adenoidectomy is performed.
• Avoid surgery in patients with hemoglobin less than 10.
• Perform surgery at least 2 weeks after the last attack of
acute tonsillitis.
• Wait at least 6 weeks after polio vaccination.
• Avoid surgery in patients with uncontrolled systemic
diseases (ie. leukemia).

28. • The adenoid curette is
used in adenoidectomy
operations.
• The instrument has a
strong handle, a shaft and
a curette at the tip. The
curette itself is a curved,
square window that allows
for the tissue to engage in
it.

29. With guard Without guard

30. How the adenoid curette is used
• For the adenoidectomy operation, the patient lies supine in
the neutral position.
• The mouth is held open with a mouth gag.
• The curette is held at the handle like a dagger.
• The curette is then introduced into the oral cavity, all the
way above and behind the soft palate.
• The adenoid tissue is caught in the curette and removed
with a smooth, shaving movement.
• Adenoidectomy was earlier performed as a blind procedure.
A nasal endoscope can now be used to visualize the
procedure.

32. Nasal endoscopic adenoidectomy
using curette

33. Oral endoscopic adenoidectomy
using curette

34. Micro debrider
Micro debrider Micro debrider-tip blade

35. Mirror assisted microdebrider
adenoidectomy

36. Coblation adenoidectomy
• It is also other wise known as cold
abalation. This technique utilises a field
of plasma, or ionised sodium
molecules, to ablate tissues. The heat
generated varies from 40 - 80 degrees
centigrade, much lower than that of
electro cautery. The major advantage of
this procedure is reduced bleeding and
reduced post operative pain.

37. Coblation adenoidectomy

38. • The incidence of mortality from adenotonsillar surgery
ranges from 1 in 16,000 to 1 in 35,000 cases.
• Anesthetic complications and hemorrhage cause the
majority of deaths.
• The prevalence of hemorrhage ranges from 0.1% to 8.1%.
• It is divided into primary bleeding, in the first 24 hours, and
secondary bleeding, around 7-10 days post operatively.
Griesel syndrome. Patient complains of neck pain and
develops torticollis. Mostly it is due to spasm of
paraspinal muscles, but can be due to atlanto-axial
dislocation requiring cervical collar and even traction.

39. • Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Airway obstruction due to edema
• Pulmonary edema
• Velopharyngeal insufficiency
• Dental injury
• Burns
• Nasopharyngeal stenosis