Does tonsillectomy improve quality of life in adults? A systematic literature review

Aim: To determine whether tonsillectomy improves quality of life in adults suffering from chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. Method: A systematic literature search of the Medline and Pubmed databases was conducted in order to identify all relevant studies measuring quality of life directly. Results and Conclusion: Eight studies were identified. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory and the Short Form questionnaire were the main tools used to assess quality of life changes. Tonsillectomy is likely to improve the overall quality of life as it particularly improves patients' physical and general health. The social benefits of tonsillectomy appear to be non-significant. The effects are likely to be long-lasting and have a greater impact on younger patients. The presence of coexisting chronic conditions and the severity of infective symptoms due to tonsillitis are also influencing factors.