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Published on: August 18, 2014
Lateralized differences in olfactory function and olfactory bulb volume relate to nasal septum deviation.
Aytug Altundag1, Murat Salihoglu, Hakan Tekeli
1From the *Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul Surgery Hospital; and Departments of †Otorhinolaryngology, ‡Neurology, and §Radiology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Istanbul; and ∥Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Amasya University Training and Research Hospital, Amasya, Turkey; and #Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Germany.
Nasal septal deviation (NSD) significantly impairs olfactory function, particularly on the narrower side. This study found reduced olfactory bulb volume correlated with decreased odor identification and discrimination in patients with NSD.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a common cause of partial nasal obstruction.
- The impact of lateralized nasal obstruction on olfactory bulb (OB) volume is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate olfactory function and OB volume differences in patients with severe NSD.
- To correlate olfactory performance with OB volume in relation to nasal anatomy.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five volunteers (22 right NSD, 43 left NSD) underwent volumetric MRI brain scans.
- Detailed lateralized olfactory tests assessed odor thresholds, discrimination, and identification.
- Correlation analysis was performed between relative olfactory scores and OB volumes.
Main Results:
- Most patients showed decreased olfactory function, with 72% experiencing hyposmia.
- Olfactory function was significantly lower on the narrower side of the nasal passage (P ≤ 0.005).
- A positive correlation was found between relative OB volume and olfactory test performance.
Conclusions:
- Severe nasal septal deviation leads to reduced olfactory function on the constricted side.
- Septal deviation impacts olfactory bulb volume and overall olfactory performance.
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