Three cases of congenital anosmia diagnosed by MRI

Abstract

We reviewed three cases (0.52%) of congenital anosmia without hypogonadism. None of the three cases demonstrated any response to the intravenous olfactory test, or to T&T olfactometry. Each olfactory cleft was normal with endoscopy. Biopsy of mucosa of the olfactory cleft in one of three cases showed that olfactory mucosa could not be detected in the mucosal specimen and that only respiratory mucosa was identified. Hypoplasia or lack of olfactory bulbs and sulci olfactorius was demonstrated on brain MRI in all cases, supporting a diagnosis of congenital anosmia. MRI was useful for the diagnosis of congenital anosmia without hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.