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Olfactory function in patients with olfactory groove meningioma
A Welge-Luessen1, A Temmel, C Quint
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. awl@pharmako.pharmakologie.uni-erlangen.de
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|February 13, 2001
Summary
Olfactory meningiomas rarely cause early anosmia, and olfactory tests are not consistently helpful for detection. Postoperative olfactory function depends on tumor size and preoperative status, with ipsilateral function preservation being challenging.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Olfactory meningiomas are rare basal tumors, often presenting with non-specific symptoms like headaches.
- Anosmia is a suspected early symptom, but detailed psychophysical olfactory testing in affected patients has been limited.
Observation:
- This study examined 12 patients with olfactory meningiomas using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test battery for preoperative and postoperative olfactory function.
- Eight meningiomas were lateralized, and four were bilateral. MRI and ENT examinations were also performed.
Findings:
- Preoperatively, six patients had anosmia and two had hyposmia on the tumor side; four were normosmic.
- Postoperatively, four patients had anosmia on the operated side, while three were normosmic contralaterally. Eight patients experienced complete postoperative anosmia.
Implications:
- Olfactory testing appears to have limited utility in diagnosing olfactory meningiomas.
- Contralateral olfactory function preservation is likely if the tumor is <3cm and preoperative olfaction was normal.
- Preserving ipsilateral olfactory function is extremely difficult regardless of tumor size or surgical approach.