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Posttraumatic anosmia secondary to central nervous system injury
1Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
Background:
The presumed pathogenesis of posttraumatic anosmia is stretching or shearing of the olfactory nerves in a coup-contracoup head contusion. Direct injury to the brain is an alternate mechanism of injury. In this study we report a case where direct injury to the brain is the probable mechanism of injury.
Methods:
A case report was performed.
Results:
A 55-year-old man presented with loss of smell beginning 1 month after a closed head injury with loss of consciousness. The MRI showed posttraumatic scarring in the region of the olfactory bulbs.
Conclusion:
This case suggests that central nervous system injury to the olfactory bulbs and tracts may be a mechanism of posttraumatic anosmia.
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