Position paper on olfactory dysfunction

Abstract

is the official Journal of the European and International Rhinologic Societies and appears quarterly in March, June, September and December. Cited in Pubmed, Current Contents, Index Medicus, Exerpta Medica and Embase Founded in 1963 by H.A.E. van Dishoeck, Rhinology is a worldwide non-profit making journal. The journal publishes original papers on basic research as well as clinical studies in the major field of rhinology, including physiology, diagnostics, pathology, immunology, medical therapy and surgery of both the nose and paranasal sinuses. Review articles and short communications are also pulished. All papers are peer-reviewed. Letters-to-the-editor provide a forum for comments on published papers, and are not subject to editorial revision except for correction of English language.In-depth studies that are too long to be included into a regular issue can be published as a supplement. Supple ments are not subject to peer-review.

Response to Glucocorticosteroids Predicts Olfactory Outcome After ESS in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

“…Indeed, a positive outcome of surgery was more likely when the duration of the disorder was short. This confirms previous observations that point in the same direction …”

“…This finding is in line with other recent research, which could demonstrate that patients who showed an olfactory improvement greater than 50% after systemic corticosteroid before surgery had a better rate of olfactory recovery postoperatively . However, the study by Rives et al was based on VAS only for olfactory measurement, the results of which have to be treated with caution …”

“…Interestingly, there was a negative correlation between duration of the disorder and postoperative TDI score increase. This highlights that it seems to be advantageous regarding olfactory function to intervene in an early stage of CRSwNP . Regarding the effect of glucocorticosteroids, it could be demonstrated that olfactory function improved.…”

Reversible obstruction of the olfactory cleft: impact on olfactory perception and nasal patency

“…Olfactory dysfunction is frequently due to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). In these cases, olfactory loss is due not only to changes in conduction, with odorants being blocked from reaching the OC, but also to inflammation 17,18 . Still, obstructive processes influence olfactory perception to a great extent in CRS, as reflected by studies on systematic scorings of edema, discharge, scarring, crusting, and polyps of the OC showing correlations with olfactory test results 19,20 .…”

“…In general, odors can be perceived as pleasant or unpleasant and a shift in this subjective perception is termed parosmia (distortion of odors). In olfactory dysfunction due to CRS, however, parosmia is not common 17 . Therefore, obstruction of the OC (because the OC is often affected in CRS) may not shift the pleasantness of an odor.…”