Sense of smell in patients with bilateral nasal polyposis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sense of smell is susceptible to various changes, both in physiological and in numerous pathological conditions. Of quantitative disorders of smell, hyposmia and anosmia are quite common, whereas of qualitative disorders parosmia is most frequent. The aim of this paper was to examine impact of bilateral nasal polyposis on olfactory function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was carried out at the Nose, Ear and Throat Clinic in Novi Sad. It included 80 examinees, 40 (20 male, 20 female) with bilateral nasal polyposis, while 40 examinees belonged to the control group (20 male, 20 female) without symptoms of nasal polyposes. Fortunato-Niccolini olfactometer was used for this examination. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In patients with bilateral nasal polyposis the average perception threshold values for examined odors were 15.50 ccm of odorous air, while in the control group they were 10.20 ccm of odorous air. The average identification threshold values for examined odors in patients with bilateral nasal polyposis were 18.80 ccm of odorous air, while in the control group they were 13.55 ccm of scented air. T-test showed that values of both thresholds were statistically significantly higher (p<0.01) in patients with bilateral nasal polyposis in relation to the control group. CONCLUSION: Olfactory deficit in patients with bilateral nasal polyposis is explained by difficult or impossible passage of odors into the olfactory region.