The authors investigated the clinical course of 49 patients with peritonsillar abscesses treated at Uwajima City Hospital between January 1983 and December 1995. The cohort consisted of 36 males and 13 females, aged 15 to 68 (mean age, 37.2 years old). Along with administration of antibiotics, removal of the abscess was performed by needle aspiration in 25 cases, and incision for drainage in 24 cases, respectively. There were no statistical differences in clinical stage and course between the group under 40 years old and the group over 40 years old. There was also no difference between the group treated with needle aspiration and the group treated with incision, except for the length of hospital stay healing time. Interval tonsillectomy was carried out in 10 cases. Recurrence of the peritonsillar abscess occurred in only one case. Therefore, we recommend needle aspiration as the first choice for treatment of peritonsillar abscesses. In cases of peritonsillar abscess with no past history of habitual angina, tonsillectomy is not indicated because recurrence of peritonsillar abscesses is rare.