Adult adenoid hypertrophy, is it persistent childhood adenoid hypertrophy?

Objectives: Adult adenoid hypertrophy is not common. More number of cases of adult adenoid hypertrophy is detected in recent years due to the free availability of endoscopes. The aim of this study is to know the etiopathology of adenoid hypertrophy in adults. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five cases of adult adenoid hypertrophy who underwent adenoidectomy were studied in our institution over a period of 5 years from 2008 to 2013. All the patients underwent diagnostic nasal endoscopy, and associated sinus and nasal pathology were studied. Results: Of 25 cases, 12 were males and 13 were females. In our study adult adenoid hypertrophy was more common in second and third decade. Nasal obstruction was main symptom in 80% of our cases. Allergic symptoms were seen in 28%, headache in 24%, and repeated throat infection in 20%. Adenoidectomy with tonsillectomy was done in 5 cases, adenoidectomy with septoplasty in 5 cases, septoplasty with turbinectomy along with adenoidectomy in 7 cases, functional endoscopic sinus surgery with adenoidectomy in 3 cases, adenoidectomy with tympanoplasty in 2 cases, myringotomy with grommet insertion in 2 patients, and isolated adenoidectomy in 1 patient. Conclusion: Since highest number of cases in our study is in early adulthood, we believe that adenoid hypertrophy is persistence of childhood hypertrophy.