Abstract

Objective To study the volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) halitometry profile in a population with chronic caseous tonsillitis (CCT) and halitosis and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of a tonsillolith and abnormal halitometry in this population.

Design Clinical prospective non-randomised study.

Subjects and methods Forty-nine patients with halitosis and CCT, 17 male (35%) and 32 female (65%), were selected among patients referred for CO₂ laser cryptolysis. Anamnesis, physical examination and VSC halitometry were carried out. Halitometry values less than 150 ppb of VSC were considered normal.

Results Patients were divided in two groups: Group A – normal halitometry (41 patients – 83.7%) and Group B – abnormal halitometry (8 patients – 16.3%). Halitometry results in Group B were 5.2 times (429%) higher than in Group A and the majority of the patients with abnormal halitometry presented with a tonsillolith at the moment of examination. A tonsillolith was present in 75% of the patients with abnormal halitometry and only 6% of patients with normal halitometry values.

Conclusions The presence of a tonsillolith represents a tenfold increased risk of abnormal VSC halitometry and can be considered as a predictable factor for abnormal halitometry in patients with CCT.

1. Dental Surgeon/Doctoral Student in Medical Sciences, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
2. Gastroenterologist/Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil
3. Otolaryngologist/Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil

Correspondence to: E. M. D. Nicola³ e-mail: enicola@fcm.unicamp.br