Is fine needle aspiration of the tonsil superior to a surface swab for isolating its core flora in recurrent tonsillitis?

This prospective study was designed to explore the possible role of fine needle aspiration of recurrently inflamed tonsils in determining their core flora. Seventy-seven patients undergoing tosillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis were included. Colonies grown from fine needle aspirate and surface swab were compared with tonsillar core culture obtained after tosillectomy. The pathogens isolated by fine needle aspiration culture were not greatly different from surface swab results in comparison to core isolates. The results of fine needle aspirate do not appear to confer any advantage over surface swab in representing core flora. These findings would seem to indicate no clinical use for fine needle aspiration in the management of recurrent tonsillitis.