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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:10
Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
Published on: August 17, 2018
Gustatory and olfactory function in breast cancer patients
Silke Steinbach1, Walter Hundt, Thomas Zahnert
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University, Dresden, Germany. Silkesteinbach@hotmail.com
Summary
Breast cancer patients
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Loss of appetite is a common symptom in cancer patients, potentially linked to taste/smell dysfunction or tumor byproducts.
- Understanding the cause is crucial for patient counseling and symptom management.
- Limited research exists on olfactory function in cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate taste and smell function in breast cancer patients before chemotherapy.
- To explore the relationship between tumor characteristics and sensory function.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-nine breast cancer patients underwent validated taste (taste strips) and smell tests (Sniffin' Sticks).
- Results were compared to normative data and correlated with tumor size, histology, receptor status, and metastasis.
Main Results:
- Breast cancer patients showed no significant difference in odor threshold but improved odor identification and discrimination.
- A significant decrease in sour taste perception was noted on the left tongue side; other taste qualities were unaffected.
- Increasing tumor size correlated with decreased olfactory function, but not taste function. Bitter taste showed a correlation with Her2 status.
Conclusions:
- Taste and smell appear largely unaltered in breast cancer patients compared to controls.
- Olfactory function declines with increasing tumor burden, while taste function remains stable.
- Sensory alterations are not substantially linked to common breast cancer biomarkers or metastasis.
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