Adenoidectomy: Correlation Between Individual Factors, Surgical Technique, and Residual Adenoids

Adenoidectomy is the most commonly performed otolaryngological surgical procedure in children. The removal of adenoid lymphoid tissue is intended to clear the nasopharynx and restore the patency of the nasal airways. In most cases, adenoidectomy leads to an improvement in symptoms and quality of life. However, in some patients, symptoms recur with the presence of lymphoid tissue obstructing the nasopharynx. In these cases, a surgical revision is often necessary.

The traditional surgical technique is performed using an adenoid curette or Shambaugh adenotome without direct visualization of the surgical field. Among the known limitations of this surgery is the possibility of leaving intraoperative adenoid residues. In the literature, regarding the detection of adenoid vegetations in patients who have already undergone adenoidectomy, the term "regrowth" of lymphoid tissue is often used; however, this term is correctly applied only when there is certainty of complete adenoid excision during the procedure. In the absence of this certainty, it would therefore be more accurate to speak of persistence or recurrence of adenoid hypertrophy after adenoidectomy. However, this phenomenon is poorly understood due to the scarcity of information in the literature regarding the incidence, associated factors, and etiology of this clinical entity. In particular, there is still debate over whether the recurrence of symptoms following the detection of nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue is due to incomplete surgical resection, or whether individual factors may coexist and contribute to the recurrence of adenoid lymphoid tissue. To date, the scientific literature has focused almost exclusively on intraoperative variables independent of the patient. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there are patient-specific factors at the time of surgery-such as sex, age, weight, height, and soft palate length-that may influence the surgical efficacy of the traditional technique in terms of complete removal of adenoid lymphoid tissue.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Tonsillectomy

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1200

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Lombardy
    • Pavia, Lombardy, Italy, 27100
      • Recruiting
      • Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia
      • Contact: Fabio Giuseppe Pagella, MD; Phone Number: 0382 503740/0382 503702; Email: f.pagella@smatteo.pv.it

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pediatric patients evaluated at the upper airway endoscopy clinic who are candidates for adenoidectomy

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pediatric patients evaluated at the upper airway endoscopy clinic who are candidates for adenoidectomy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
assessment of the influence of anatomical factors on surgical outcomes	To assess whether individual anatomical factors such as age, sex, weight, and height-and, in particular, variables related to oropharyngeal anatomy-may influence surgical efficacy in terms of the complete removal of adenoid lymphoid tissue.	Up to 5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 20, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 20, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: P_57145

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No