Adenoid hypertrophy

Alternative names:

enlarged adenoids

Definition:

An enlargement of the adenoids (lymphatic tissue in the back of the throat). The adenoids, along with the tonsils, comprise the Waldeyer ring.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Hypertrophy (enlargement) of the adenoids may occur naturally (beginning during fetal development) or be caused by chronic inflammation . This enlargement can cause breathing difficulties ranging from mouth breathing, snoring, bad breath, and chronic runny nose, to health threatening conditions such as intermittent sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, and right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale).