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INFECTION in the nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue commonly plays a uniquely important role in the causation of the common cold, deafness due to malfunctioning eustachian tubes, recurring or acute infection of the ear, bronchial asthma (especially in children) and chronic bronchitis. This is partly due to the anatomic location of such tissue, but a great deal about its etiologic role is as yet only poorly understood.
In many patients irradiation of nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue is essential for its adequate elimination. Surgical removal of adenoids is at best not perfect, and even if all the nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue could be removed, that within the orifice of the eustachian tube would not be affected. Lymphoid tissue is an integral part of the mucous membrane in this region and is bound to recur as the mucous membrane grows back. Lymphoid tissue is so sensitive to irradiation that minute dosages will cause its regression and