Olfactory function following late repair of choanal atresia

Results of olfactory function tests (threshold determination and odor identification) in three cases of bilateral and one case of unilateral choanal atresia are reported. All four patients underwent successful repair of choanal atresia at relatively advanced ages (8 to 31 years). Test results showed that patients who had suffered from bilateral atresia had permanent olfactory deficits, while the patient who had suffered from unilateral atresia appeared to have normal olfactory acuity. Although these results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of cases examined, they suggest the possibility that early sensory exposure might be needed for the normal development of central olfactory functions in analogy to the visual system.