The effect of endoscopic olfactory cleft polyp removal on olfaction

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Rhinology
• Olfactory Dysfunction Research

Background:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis often involves olfactory cleft polyps.
• The impact of endoscopic surgery on olfaction in these cases remains understudied.
• This study investigates objective smell improvements following olfactory cleft polyp surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of microdebridement of olfactory cleft polyps in improving olfaction.
• To compare outcomes between surgical removal and observation of olfactory cleft polyps.

Main Methods:

• A randomized prospective single-blinded study involving patients with bilateral nasal polyposis.
• Two groups were formed: one undergoing olfactory cleft polyp removal (Group A) and one with polyps left in situ (Group B).
• Preoperative and 6-month follow-up assessments included the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), visual analog scale (VAS), and SNOT-20 scores.

Main Results:

• Group A showed statistically significant improvements in UPSIT, VAS, and SNOT-20 scores (p < 0.05).
• Group B demonstrated a statistically significant improvement only in VAS scores (p < 0.05).
• A significant difference in clinical smell improvement was observed between Group A and Group B at 6 months (p = 0.00512).

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic surgery for olfactory cleft polyps demonstrates potential for improving olfactory function.
• Further long-term studies are required to validate these promising initial findings.