Lymphoma presenting as a peritonsillar abscess

• DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2012.09.012
• Publication Date: 2013-04-02T14:17:10Z
• Authors: S. Kallel; H. Hadj Taieb; S. Makni; A. Ghorbel
• Keywords: Peritonsillar abscess; Lymphoma; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Tonsillar Neoplasms; Peritonsillar Abscess; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Otorhinolaryngology; Humans; Surgery; Female; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Aged; Tonsillectomy

Peritonsillar abscess is generally seen as a complication of acute tonsillitis in young subjects. It may, however, in rare cases reveal a malignant tumor of the tonsil: most often squamous cell carcinoma or, more rarely, lymphoma. We report a rare case of tonsillar lymphoma revealed by a peritonsillar abscess.A 66-year-old woman, without history of recurrent tonsillitis, was admitted for right peritonsillar abscess with fever. She underwent incision-drainage of the abscess with 10 days' intravenous antibiotics. As tonsillar hypertrophy persisted, tonsillectomy was performed; histology with immunohistochemical examination found tonsillar lymphoma.Possible tumoral etiology should be considered in any peritonsillar abscess occurring in an atypical subject. Acute-stage tonsillectomy enables early diagnosis.