Radiofrequency treatment of tonsillar hypertrophy.

Objective: To describe radiofrequency electrosurgery and the devices and techniques available for using this technology to treat tonsillar hypertrophy.

Study Design: Review.

Methods: Electrosurgical devices, which include the Bovie, Elmed, somnoplasty, and coblation systems and argon plasma coagulators, use energy transfer by means of electromagnetic radiation to generate heat within tissue for cutting and coagulation. With these devices, tonsillar tissue can be removed completely, partly ablated, or decreased in volume.

Results: Tissue ablation with radiofrequency that preserves the outer portion of the tonsillar capsule may reduce postoperative pain and allow earlier return to normal diet and activity. Removal of the entire tonsil using the coblation method may produce less damage in adjacent tissue than standard electrosurgery, thereby decreasing postoperative pain and healing time. Tissue reduction procedures may have a reduced risk of bleeding and produce less patient discomfort than other methods and can be performed in the office setting in some patients.

Conclusion: Use of radiofrequency technology may decrease the morbidity associated with treatment of tonsillar hypertrophy. Preliminary trials of radiofrequency procedures have yielded promising results, but larger studies evaluating costs and benefits are needed.