A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. Tonsils are two small glands located in the back of your throat. Tonsils house white blood cells to help you fight infection, but sometimes the tonsils themselves become infected.
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils that can make your tonsils swell and give you a sore throat. The adenoids are located behind the nasal passages, and can become infected as well. An adenoidectomy is a surgery to remove the adenoids.
Often, these procedures are done at the same time, and are known as T&A, or tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
