Is surgery the only option for enlarged adenoids?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the X-rays (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity); the first x-ray is the X-ray nasopharynx lateral view taken to grade the adenoids, and the grade would be II to III. Meaning that it is causing about 50 to 75 % obstruction in the back part of his nose (nasopharynx). Also, he has typical protruding teeth classical of obstructive breathing. Nasal obstruction is not always caused by enlarged adenoids alone. There may be other factors to consider, such as nasal allergy, which may be causing boggy nasal turbinate tissues and causing nasal obstruction and noisy breathing. Hence it is essential to know whether there are any allergic symptoms such as bouts of sneezing in the mornings, itchy eyes, nose and throat, background of bronchial asthma, skin allergies, etc. The other factor we would consider is regarding his hearing. If the adenoid enlargement obstructs his eustachian tubes (connecting the back of his nose to the ears), he may have fluid in the ears or even some degree of reduced hearing capacity. The appropriate measure would be a clinical examination to look for all these factors. If so, generally, a three-month course of topical nasal steroid sprays is helpful, and then we can evaluate the improvement in symptoms before deciding on adenoid removal. Hope that answers your doubts.