The effects of radiofrequency on the bacteriological and histological characteristics of tonsils in patients with chronic and persistent tonsillitis

Objectives Tonsillotomy with radiofrequency (RF) is one of the newest treatments for chronic tonsillitis, but the mechanism of RF effects and complications are still pending. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RF on the histological and bacteriological characteristics of the tonsils (Case-control study). Materials and methods In fifty-two patients with chronic tonsillitis in 2017–2018, immediately after tonsillectomy, the tonsils were divided into 2sections; one sample treated with RF, and the other one considered as control, without intervention. All tonsil samples sent for histological and bacteriological study: morphometric assays made by Digitizer software, and type of bacterial colonies identified by microbiological and biochemical tests. Willcoxon and McNemar tests were used for statistical analysis and level of significance was p ≤ .05. Results Tonsil mucosal thickness (2202.98 ± 323.09 vs. 2463.94 ± 357.61 μm) and size of the tonsil nodule (28,000.42 ± 9608.75 vs. 36,692.81 ± 7040.74 μm2) were significantly lower in the RF+ group than other group (p = .001 and p = .01, respectively). There was no significant differences in thickness of the tonsil epithelium (p = .075), number of lymphoid nodules (p = .860), and the number of reticular tonsil epithelium (p = .813) between the two groups. Bacterial growth in RF- and RF+ groups had no statistically significant difference (p = .06), however, the average colony count of S. aureus in RF+ tonsils were significantly lower, and total number of bacterial colonies were significantly lower in RF+ group(1405 ± 156 vs. 2471 ± 156), (p = .001). Conclusion RF surgery has significant effects on size of the nodules, thickness of the mucous layer and bacteriological characteristics of tonsil tissue. Especially S. aureus seems to be more sensitive to RF effects.