A case of ulcerative colitis in which palatine tonsillectomy was remarkably effective

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is an idiopathic, non-specific inflammatory disorder of the colon, and its etiology remains unknown. We present a case of ulcerative colitis in which clinical symptoms were remarkably improved by palatine tonsillectomy. The patient was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis and treated with internal medicine. When pharyngitis and aphthous stomatitis developed, his bowel symptoms worsened. A tonsillar provocation test was performed, and the result was positive. Moreover, bowel symptoms worsened after the tonsillar provocation test and the patient developed a sore throat and fever. Therefore, we suspected tonsillar focal infection and carried out palatine tonsillectomy. In the early postoperative period, bloody diarrhea recovered despite the interruption of sulfasalazopiridine and lymphocyte afleresis. In addition, recurrent pharyngitis and aphtous stomatitis were resolved entirely.