It is thanks to the authors that an up-to-date longitudinal study is finally available, providing impressive evidence that tonsillectomy confers a long-term benefit in patients with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis (1). With regard to the debatable response rate of 62%, the authors did not have the impression that this created a bias. This can be easily—and also more scientifically—redressed: What is lacking, and is required, is a direct statistical comparison of all baseline parameters between responders (n = 71) and non-responders (n = 43). In addition, data is available for n = 26 non-responders at 14 months post tonsillectomy. Thus, these non-responders could also be compared with the responders at 14 month post-surgery. Although the results are clear, not all patients benefit from surgical treatment.
Due to the frequency of the procedure, predictors for better patient selection are desirable. The authors from Gelsenkirchen and Essen (Germany) are unable to identify predictors of improved long-term quality of life. We were recently able to show in an own prospective study using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) that particular serum marker profiles are associated with a better GBI at 6 months post tonsillectomy. Preoperative blood samples were undoubtedly taken from patients in the study by Senska et al.; it would be interesting to see whether serum marker profiles of this kind appear in the Senska et al. study.
References
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