Tonsillomycosis: a myco-histopathological study.

Tissues from 227 tonsillectomies, mainly in adults, were examined culturally and histopathologically for the presence of fungus. Actinomyces was demonstrated in 69 cases (30.40 per cent) by both methods. Yeasts and moulds were each isolated from 21 cases (9.25 per cent) and mixed isolates were obtained from 7 cases (3.08 per cent). There was no histopathological evidence of these organisms. Negative cultural and histopathological results were obtained in 53 cases (23.35 per cent). Chloramphenicol-resistant bacteria were cultured in 56 cases (25.11 per cent) but were seen histopathologically in only 25 cases (11.01 per cent). In all cases in which Actinomyces or bacteria were present histopathologically, a minimal tissue response indicated that these organisms were saprophytes and not primary pathogens.