Key Points
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Halitosis is a very common complaint in patients with chronic caseous tonsillitis.
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The VSC halitometry profile has not yet been described in these patients.
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When a tonsillolith is present, there is a tenfold increased risk for abnormal halitometry.
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Even if VSC halitometry is not available, in the presence of a tonsillolith the probability of true halitosis is very high.
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.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Statistical Research Committee of the School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Brazil for the statistical analysis of this study. The authors also would like to thank Professor Sherian Kae Bowyer for her assistance with the English.
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Rio, A., Franchi-Teixeira, A. & Nicola, E. Relationship between the presence of tonsilloliths and halitosis in patients with chronic caseous tonsillitis. Br Dent J 204, E4 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.1106
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.1106
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