No abstract

The odor stick identification test (OSIT) is a new test of olfactory function recently developed for Japanese people. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate this test in relation to T&T olfactometry and the cross-cultural smell identification test (CC-SIT) by applying to 110 Japanese patients with olfactory disturbance. The averaged recognition thresholds for five odorants in T&T olfactometry, the number of correct answers in the CC-SIT and the rates of identification of 13 odorants in the OSIT were compared. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was also used to evaluate symptoms. The rate of identification of OSIT showed high and significant correlation coefficients with the averaged recognition thresholds of T&T olfactometry (-0.766, P < 0.001), with the number of correct answers in CC-SIT (0.754, P < 0.001) and with the VAS score (0.591, P < 0.001). In addition, on the identification performance measured by OSIT, we found significant differences between all pairs of four degrees of olfactory dysfunction except for one pair. Thus, we conclude that OSIT is useful for evaluating olfactory dysfunction in Japanese people.

Bilateral same-day surgery for bilateral perforated chronic otitis media is possible if operative indications are considered. Furthermore, it will help patients save time and money.

No abstract

Positive surgical indications for an only hearing ear were evaluated in order to improve patients' quality of life. Fifteen cases of surgery involving an only hearing ear over the past eight years were retrospectively reviewed. Of eight perforated chronic otitis media cases, seven underwent type one tympanoplasty and one underwent simple underlay myringoplasty regardless of otorrhoea at the time of surgery. Of six cholesteatoma cases, two received the canal wall up method and four received the canal wall down method. Ossiculoplasty was carefully performed in six cases. Hearing was improved in seven cases, whereas it remained unchanged in seven cases and deteriorated in one case. Of nine patients, two did not need a hearing aid after surgery. Five patients with severe combined hearing loss (>90 dB) were able to communicate with a hearing aid, alleviating their anxiety regarding hearing loss. Only hearing ears with chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma can be successfully treated by tympanoplasty with or without ossiculoplasty.