Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy Grading and Its Relation to Sociodemographic Factors and Clinical Symptoms
Condition: Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy; Dysphagia
MeSH terms: Deglutition Disorders; Hypertrophy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim of this research was to evaluate the lingual tonsil hypertrophy (LTH) grading of
      patients with dysphagia using videolaryngoscopy and determine the relation of LTH grades to
      sociodemographic factors and clinical symptoms.
    

Detailed description: 
      Two groups of people were interviewed during this research - the LTH group and the control
      group - a total of 100 subjects. The first group was comprised of 50 individuals, who visited
      the otorhinolaryngologist at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences hospital, regarding
      dysphagia, and were diagnosed with LTH during endoscopy. The second group consisted of 50
      healthy individuals without dysphagia, who did not have enlarged lingual tonsils during
      assessment using videolaryngoscopy. All subjects filled out the questionnaires, composed of
      RSI (Reflux Symptom Index) and DSQ (Dysphagia Screening Questionnaire) questionnaires,
      validated and verified for use in Lithuania, together with a questionnaire created
      specifically for this research for gathering sociodemographic data.

      The LTH grade of all subjects was determined using DelGaudio and Friedman grading systems.
    

Intervention name(s): Videolaryngoscopy; Reflux Symptom Index Questionnaire; Dysphagia Screening Questionnaire
Intervention type(s): Device; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): A rigid 70 degree laryngoscope is inserted into the subject's oropharynx, which allows to visualize the lingual tonsils. The size of the lingual tonsils is evaluated using DelGaudio and Friedman grading systems.; A validated clinical tool for suspecting laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). The questionnaire was proposed by Belafsky et al. (2002) and consists of 9 most common gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and LPR symptoms: hoarseness or a problem with your voice; clearing your throat; excess throat mucus or postnasal drip; difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or pills; coughing after you ate or after lying down; breathing difficulties or choking episodes; troublesome or annoying cough; sensation of something sticking in your throat or a lump in your throat; heartburn, chest pain, indigestion, or stomach acid coming up. Each symptom is evaluated on a scale from 0 to 5 (0 - no complaint, 5 - severe symptom). The sum of all symptom evaluations ranges from 0 to 45.; A validated questionnaire, proposed by Ohkuma et al. (2002). Lithuanian version of the questionnaire consists of 16 questions: choking during swallowing meals / liquids; difficulty eating solid foods; difficult swallowing; feeling of food getting stuck in the throat; longer than before eating time; feeling of food remaining in the mouth; feeling that food or liquid is going up into the throat from the stomach; feeling of food being stuck in the esophagus; weight loss; food getting stuck in the throat; food falling from the mouth; difficulty coughing during or after meals; occurrence of pneumonia; hoarseness; coughing during the night. Interpretation of dysphagia screening questionnaire:
Advanced symptom - 2 points; Moderate intensity symptom - 1 point; No symptom - 0 point. At least one advanced symptom means - dysphagia. Higher score represents stronger dysphagia intensity. The maximum score is 32 points.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Screening
Keywords: Dysphagia; Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy; Lingual Tonsil Enlargement