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Updated: May 27, 2026
07:57
Generation and Culture of Lingual Organoids Derived from Adult Mouse Taste Stem Cells
Published on: April 5, 2021
Re-establishment of olfactory and taste functions
1University Hospital Basel, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Basel, Switzerland.
GMS Current Topics in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
|November 11, 2011
Summary
Olfactory disorders affect 1-2% of people, impacting quality of life. Treatment involves steroids, with systemic application showing more promise than surgery for improving smell function.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurology
- Quality of Life Studies
Background:
- Olfactory disorders affect 1-2% of the population, significantly impacting daily life.
- Disorders are categorized as quantitative (hyposmia, anosmia) or qualitative (parosmia, phantosmia).
- Common causes include sinonasal diseases and postviral infections, particularly in ENT patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the classification, etiology, and therapeutic approaches for olfactory disorders.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different treatment modalities, including steroids and surgery.
- To discuss the management of isolated taste disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of olfactory and taste disorders.
- Analysis of current therapeutic strategies based on pathophysiology.
- Assessment of surgical outcomes and the role of specific treatments like zinc.
Main Results:
- Systemic steroid application appears more effective than topical steroids for olfactory disorders.
- Surgical intervention for olfactory disorders has questionable long-term success and is difficult to predict.
- Isolated taste disorders are rare and often linked to underlying conditions or medications.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of olfactory disorders requires understanding their etiology and pathophysiology.
- Systemic steroids are a primary treatment, while surgical outcomes remain uncertain.
- Thorough patient history is crucial for diagnosing and treating taste and smell dysfunction, with zinc as a potential adjunct therapy.
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