Complications of adenoid vegetations: contemporary pathophysiological insights, clinical impact, and management strategies

Abstract

Adenoid vegetations constitute a hypertrophic transformation of nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue and represent one of the leading causes of upper airway obstruction in the pediatric population. Progressive enlargement of adenoidal structures disrupts nasopharyngeal ventilation, impairs mucociliary function, contributes to chronic inflammatory responses, and induces Eustachian tube dysfunction. These mechanisms lead to a broad spectrum of complications involving sleep physiology, auditory development, respiratory function, and craniofacial morphogenesis. This article provides an integrative analysis of the pathophysiological mechanisms, major clinical consequences, diagnostic strategies, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches, emphasizing the importance of early intervention to prevent irreversible sequelae.