A giant tonsillolith

Abstract

Tonsilloliths or calculi of the tonsil are calcifications that form in the crypts of the palatine tonsil or around it. Small concretions are asymptomatic while large calcifications produce symptoms such as odynophygia, dysphagia and referred otalgia. We describe a case of a 24 years old female who presented with a six month history of mild throat discomfort and was found to have a large (3.1 × 2.7 × 2.1 cm) calculus in her left tonsil for which a tonsillectomy was done. This is one of the largest reported cases in the world. The authors stress that symptoms of tonsillolith are unrelated to its size. The pertinent literature has been reviewed. © 2008 Association of Otolaryngologists of India.