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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears
Published on: February 21, 2018
Magnetic resonance imaging findings in the evaluation of traumatic anosmia
Jeffrey B Wise1, Gul Moonis, Natasha Mirza
1Dept of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 5-Ravdin, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Objectives:
Head trauma is a common cause of anosmia, but diagnosis is typically late, owing to more life-threatening sequelae of the injury. Herein, we describe our workup for a case of traumatic anosmia and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings both at the time of injury and at the 18-month follow-up.
Methods:
We present a case report and a review of the literature.
Results:
A 33-year-old woman presented to our institution with a chief complaint of loss of smell and taste following an occipital blow to her head that occurred when she was hit by a car while riding a bicycle. We present the findings of MRI performed at the time of the injury and at the 18-month follow-up. We describe the clinical progression of her disease, from symptoms of parosmic and phantosmic episodes accompanied by dysgeusia to total anosmia at the 18-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
We advocate the use of MRI, coupled with otolaryngology consultation and formal olfactory testing, in the diagnosis, management, and counseling of patients with anosmia sustained from head injury.
