Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons
Abstract Background Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure in Canada. The rate of occult malignancy is rare in adult and pediatric populations. At present, no guidelines exist surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsil specimens when no malignancy is suspected....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-022-00569-7 |
| _version_ | 1797965513412837376 |
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| author | Alexi Kuhnow Ahmed A. Al-Sayed Benjamin Taylor |
| author_facet | Alexi Kuhnow Ahmed A. Al-Sayed Benjamin Taylor |
| author_sort | Alexi Kuhnow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure in Canada. The rate of occult malignancy is rare in adult and pediatric populations. At present, no guidelines exist surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsil specimens when no malignancy is suspected. Methods We sent a confidential online survey to active members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (CSO-HNS) about their current tonsillectomy practice and beliefs surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens when no malignancy is suspected. We used Opinio survey software for data collection and descriptive statistics. Results 95 participants completed our survey (response rate 19.3%). Most participants reported performing both adult and pediatric tonsillectomies. When no malignancy is suspected, participant responses were split between whether they send tonsil specimens in pediatrics only (4.2%), in adults only (31.6%), or not sending specimens (29.5%). Half of the participants reported that routinely sending specimens to rule out occult malignancy is an institutional policy. Approximately 75% of participants were in favour of removing this practice in both the pediatric and adult populations. Conclusion Eliminating the practice of automatically sending tonsil specimens for histopathological evaluation when no malignancy is suspected was supported by the majority of study participants. This is in keeping with Choosing Wisely, a campaign designed to facilitate conversations about unnecessary medical tests and procedures. Institutional change is likely required in order to alter this practice. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:01:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4793347b2884b36bf9790a9104ba549 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1916-0216 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:01:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4793347b2884b36bf9790a9104ba5492023-01-03T04:13:37ZengBMCJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162022-04-015111710.1186/s40463-022-00569-7Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck SurgeonsAlexi Kuhnow0Ahmed A. Al-Sayed1Benjamin Taylor2Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDivision of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nova Scotia Health AuthorityDivision of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nova Scotia Health AuthorityAbstract Background Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure in Canada. The rate of occult malignancy is rare in adult and pediatric populations. At present, no guidelines exist surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsil specimens when no malignancy is suspected. Methods We sent a confidential online survey to active members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (CSO-HNS) about their current tonsillectomy practice and beliefs surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens when no malignancy is suspected. We used Opinio survey software for data collection and descriptive statistics. Results 95 participants completed our survey (response rate 19.3%). Most participants reported performing both adult and pediatric tonsillectomies. When no malignancy is suspected, participant responses were split between whether they send tonsil specimens in pediatrics only (4.2%), in adults only (31.6%), or not sending specimens (29.5%). Half of the participants reported that routinely sending specimens to rule out occult malignancy is an institutional policy. Approximately 75% of participants were in favour of removing this practice in both the pediatric and adult populations. Conclusion Eliminating the practice of automatically sending tonsil specimens for histopathological evaluation when no malignancy is suspected was supported by the majority of study participants. This is in keeping with Choosing Wisely, a campaign designed to facilitate conversations about unnecessary medical tests and procedures. Institutional change is likely required in order to alter this practice. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-022-00569-7Routine tonsillectomyTonsillectomy specimenOccult malignancySurveyClinical practiceOtolaryngology |
| spellingShingle | Alexi Kuhnow Ahmed A. Al-Sayed Benjamin Taylor Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Routine tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy specimen Occult malignancy Survey Clinical practice Otolaryngology |
| title | Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons |
| title_full | Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons |
| title_fullStr | Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons |
| title_short | Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons |
| title_sort | routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens a cross sectional survey of canadian otolaryngology head and neck surgeons |
| topic | Routine tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy specimen Occult malignancy Survey Clinical practice Otolaryngology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-022-00569-7 |
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