The palatine tonsils are two oval shaped tissues located at the back of your throat (right and left side). They are part of your immune system. If there is a growth or swollen mass on your left tonsil, you should have it assessed by an ENT Specialist.
It is likely that a biopsy (removal of a sample of the mass) or removal of the entire tonsil will be required for histology (examination of the tissue under the microscope to determine the nature of the mass).
Although certain clinical characteristics may help guide the doctor to determine if the mass is likely benign (e.g. smooth surface, no ulcers or bleeding) or cancerous (e.g. irregular surface, ulcer and bleeding), the most certain way of excluding a cancerous growth would require histological analysis.
Even if there is no growth but one tonsil is significantly larger than the other (a condition called asymmetrically enlarged tonsil), you should have it examined by an ENT Specialist. Most of the time, an asymmetrically enlarged tonsil is benign and appeared asymmetrcial due to one tonsil being "burried" or sitting deeper in your throat compared to the other.
Your ENT Specialist can sometimes see this during a nasoendoscopy (a scope through the nose and back of your throat under local anaesthesia). Occasionally, asymmetrically enlarged tonsils may be due to a cancer such as lymphoma (cancer of the immune system).
Although the tonsils are part of your immune system, they play a very small part. Numerous studies have shown that removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) does not weaken the immune system. [1] Tonsillectomy is in general a safe procedure. You should see an ENT Specialist for an assessment and discuss your options as well as possibly the risks and benefits of tonsillectomy in your case.
Hope this helps and all the best.
Reference:
1. Bitar MA, Dowli A, Mourad M. The effect of tonsillectomy on the immune system: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2015;79(8):1184-91.
