The author studied histopathologically the pathogenesis of peritonsillitis making histopathological investigations of the serial sections of the palatine tonsils removed by tonsillectomy from the patients diagnosed chronic palatine tonsillitis. The results were as follows.
(1) Examinations of the form, number and locality of the mucous glands revealed that the greatest number of mucous glands, especially ones of the greatest size, are found outside the capsule at the upper or lower pole of the palatine tonsil. Next in number they are found on the surface. Sometimes very small mucous glands are found in the septum of the surface.
(2) The ducts can be classified as follows according to their courses.
(a) Those running on the outside of the capsule and opening into the oral mucosa without passing through the parenchyma of the tonsil.
(b) Those running on the outside of the capsule and opening into the oral mucosa after passing through the parenchyma of the tonsil.
(c) Those running on the outside of the capsule and opening into the lacuna after passing through the parenchyma.
(d) Several ducts originating from one gland and running on the outside of the capsule and opening each into the oral mucosa without passing through the parenchyma of the tonsil.
(e) Several ducts originating from one gland and part of them opening into the mucous membrane on the surface of the tonsil or into the lacuna after passing through the parenchyma of the tonsil.
(3) Generally most of the mucous glands situated at the upper or lower pole of the tonsil open into the oral mucosa, and most of those situated on the exterior or in the septum open into the lacuna after passing through the parenchyma of the tonsil.
(4) The function of the mucous glands to syringe the lacuna seems to be too weak to be relied upon.
(5) Some double or single tubular glands are found coexisting with mucous glands at the upper or lower pole. These glands are embryological relics which have not developed into mucous glands.
(6) The ducts opening into the lacuna are not influenced by the inflammation of the lacuna. Hence retrograde peritonsillitis is considered to be rare.
(7) The pathogeny of peritonsillitis is considered to be as follows.
(a) The inflammation of the lacuna causes erosion and bleeding, extends to the capsule and destroys it. The auther calls this “eruptional inflammation of the lacuna”.
(b) Some lacunas are found outside the capsule. The author calls these “projectional lacunas”.
(c) Chronic palatine tonsillitis causes subcapsular lacunar cysts, making the capsule thinner.
(8) Chronic palatine tonsillitis causes fibrinous necrosis and obstructive angitis in the parenchyma of the tonsil and in the blood vessels of its surrounding tissues. Eosinocytes infiltration and fibrinous swelling and degeneration of connective tissues are often observed. This makes us suspect the existence of allergic change.
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