Objective: to evaluate whether the signs of adenoid vegetation (AV, hypertrophic adenoids) depend on the size of AV and whether it is of practical importance to evaluate their size before the operation Methods: In children with adenoid vegetation at the age of 2-10 years who were admitted for adenoidectomy (AT) the authors took detailed history concerning the signs and performed endoscopic examination of the size of AV in relation to tubal tori and choanae. The frequency of individual signs in relation to AV was followed as well as their occurrence one and three months after the operation. Results: A total of 239 children were examined. One month after AT 116 children showed up and three months after AT 56 children came for the control examination. The most frequent symptoms in children with infected AT were nasal obstructions and infections of upper respiratory pathways. There was not any significant relation between individual signs and the different size of AV. The frequency of signs during control examinations was markedly lower than before the operation. Conclusion: There was a significant difference between the symptoms represented in the small and large vegetations. In spite of that a careful examination of nasopharynx and a precise evaluation of the size of AV, which is possible only by endoscopy, is necessary mainly for excluding further pathological conditions in nasopharynx in view of making decision of subsequent surgical intervention in the child and, obviously, also for documentation and communication between physicians.

        Key words: adenoid vegetation, size, signs and symptoms, adenoidectomy.