Woman Discovers Tonsils Regrew 40 Years After Removal

After decades of sore throats, a Michigan woman learns her tonsils had partially regenerated, requiring a second surgery.

Katy Golden, a Michigan resident, had her tonsils removed at age 5 in 1983 but recently learned they had grown back over the past 40 years.
Golden sought medical attention in 2024 for persistent sore throats, leading to the discovery of her nearly fully regrown left tonsil by ENT specialist Dr. Cynthia Hayes.
Tonsil regrowth is rare, occurring in an estimated 1% to 6% of cases, particularly when partial tonsillectomies are performed or residual tissue remains.
Advancements in surgical techniques, such as coblation, have reduced the likelihood of regrowth compared to older methods used in the 1980s.
Golden underwent a second tonsillectomy in 2024 and is now recovering, hopeful that her chronic throat pain will finally be resolved.