Tonsil stones are caseous material, as small as gravel or as large as pigeon’s egg, formed by shedding epithelium and bacterial debris due to fibrosis of the crypt orifice and obstruction of drainage caused by recurrent episodes of tonsillitis. It can be detected by pharyngeal examination, X-ray examination, CT examination, and ultimately needs to be confirmed by a specialist.
1. Pharyngeal examination: stones on the surface of the tonsils can usually be seen by opening the mouth and using a tongue depressor, sometimes the tonsils can be squeezed with the help of cotton swabs or tweezers, and there will be a white or yellowish-white speck-like hard material spilling out of the crypts.
2. X-ray examination: the appearance of deep tonsil stones usually can not be seen, through the X-ray examination can be seen in the tonsils of high-density shadow may be tonsil stones.
3. CT examination: It is difficult to see the appearance of tonsil stones through the CT examination can be seen tonsil stones in the form of oval, speckled high-density shadow.