The structure and function of the nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue with special reference to the aetiology of secretory otitis

Abstract

Differences in gross and microscopic structure were sought between the adenoids removed from children with secretory otitis and those from children without aural complaints whose main problem was recurrent tonsillitis. The adenoids were studied from 3 aspects: quantitative histological assessment of lymphoid tissue, bulk of tissue as assessed by lateral soft-tissue radiographs of the post-nasal space and weight of removed lymphoid mass. There was no difference in the weights of the adenoid masses removed from the 2 groups who were otherwise identical in terms of total body weight. There was no evidence of greater antigenic stimulation in the secretory otitis group.