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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffTonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. These two fleshy oval-shaped pads are located on either side of the back of the throat. Tonsillectomy is needed when the tonsils become infected frequently (tonsillitis) or an infection doesn't get better with other treatment. In some cases, tonsillectomy is done because enlarged tonsils block normal breathing. This can lead to problems such as sleep apnea. Less often, tonsillectomy is done to treat cancer or a tonsil that won't stop bleeding. Tonsillectomy is one of the more common surgeries in children, but it's done less often in adults.
