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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Prognosis Is Recommended For Swollen Tonsils And Throat Pain In A Smoker?

I was a smoker for 25 years. I quit on July 4th. One reason was because I was getting a sore throat that would come and go. I now have throat pain that is constant. It is superficial, and is on one side, Sometimes if I talk alot my teeth irritate the side/back of my tongue. I went to an ENT who scoped me. The only thing he saw was an oddly shaped tonsil on that side-it looks like pacman. He said he would advise removing it and having a couple of biopsies taken of the back of my tongue as well. He said this was the only way to know whether or not it was cancer. My question is, should I have both tonsils removed at this time? I am 55 years old so the recovery from the surgery will not be a walk in the park. The left tonsil looks fine. What do you suggest?
Fri, 5 Jan 2018
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
difficult to say without 1) seeing them and 2) the biopsy result. Mostly removing tumorous lymph nodes doesn't cure anything. Mostly removing lymph nodes enlarged from infection isn't needed. So, mostly not removal. BUT if the tonsil is destroyed by pus in it (basically a boil inside the tonsil) then it has to be removed. or if the tonsil is obstructing something.
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What Prognosis Is Recommended For Swollen Tonsils And Throat Pain In A Smoker?

difficult to say without 1) seeing them and 2) the biopsy result. Mostly removing tumorous lymph nodes doesn t cure anything. Mostly removing lymph nodes enlarged from infection isn t needed. So, mostly not removal. BUT if the tonsil is destroyed by pus in it (basically a boil inside the tonsil) then it has to be removed. or if the tonsil is obstructing something.