[Taste disorders in cancer patients]

Taste disorders in cancer patients. Introduction. Taste disorders are a relevant but often underestimated and under reported symptom in cancer patients. Taste disorders can be a consequence of the illness or its treatment, especially in head and neck cancer patients. Aims. To describe the physiologic mechanisms of taste disorders in cancer patients, their assessment and possible strategies for prevention and treatment. Methods. Literature review. Results. Taste disorders affect quality of life and may be responsible of the occurrence of food aversions with possible weight loss and malnutrition, associated to worst outcomes for toxicity and survival. In spite of the progresses in the last decade, the assessment of taste disorders is far from being satisfactory. In fact research focused on gastrointestinal consequences of illness and treatments, reserving only a marginal attention to taste disorders, in spite of their prevalence. The available knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the development of taste disorders in cancer patients are presented, together with assessment and treatment and prevention strategies. Discussion. Taste disorders are underreported and underestimated, in spite of their prevalence, especially in cancer patients, possibly for the wrong assumption that they cannot be treated. This may explain why they are often not reported by patients.