Although the presence of actinomycetes in the tonsillar crypts has been confirmed since 1910, their involvement in the pathogenesis of tonsillar diseases still remains uncertain.

In the present study archival matelial from 45 tonsillectomies for chronic recurrent tonsillitis (group A), as well as material from 20 tonsillectomies for obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy with no evidence of inflammation (group B) were reexamined histopathologically, in order to be clarified the contribution of actinomycetes in the pathogenesis of chronic recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy. The control group consisted of 25 autopsy cases with no evidence of inflammation or hypertrophy.

The presence of actinomycetes was demonstrated in 5 out of the 45 patients in group A (11,11%). Moderate to dense inllammatory infiltrations were found around the actinomycetes in all the 5 cases. In group B actinomycetes were found in 2 cases (10%) with no evidence of inflammatory infiltrations. In the control group 3 cases were positive for actinomycetes (12%).

There was not revealed any statistically significant difference in the prevalence of actinomycetes between the 3 groups. However the presence of inflammatory cells around the actinomycetes in group A, permits us to suggest a probable etiologic correlation of these anaerobes with the development or the conservation of chronic recurrent tonsillitis.

Key words: Actinomyces, Recurrent Tonsillitis, Tonsillar Hypertrophy.

Full text in Greek