Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Murine Salivary Functional Assessment via Pilocarpine Stimulation Following Fractionated Radiation
Published on: May 4, 2018
A systematic review of smell alterations after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer
M Álvarez-Camacho1, S Gonella2, S Campbell3
1Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Purpose:
To review the current knowledge on radiotherapy associated olfactory dysfunction among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.
Methods:
A systematic review of RT-related olfactory dysfunction in HNC was performed. Searches were conducted in several databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, CAB Abstracts, SCOPUS, Proquest Dissertations and Theses, PROSPERO, ALLEBM Reviews - Cochrane DSR, ACP Journal Club, DARE, CCTR, CMR, HTA, and NHSEED). Publications investigating olfactory dysfunction as an explicit side effect of Radiotherapy (RT, or RT-chemo or RT-monoclonal antibodies) were eligible, no limits were applied.
Results:
Two hundred and twenty-nine papers were screened and 23 met inclusion criteria.
Conclusions:
Odor detection, identification and discrimination are olfactory functions impaired after RT for HNC. An RT dose-effect has been calculated for odor identification and odor discrimination. There were no studies of the effect of olfactory dysfunction on weight loss or energy intake among RT-treated HNC patients. To improve our understanding of RT associated olfactory dysfunction among HNC patients, future studies should include a multi-dimensional assessment of olfactory function in a longitudinal design, track other conditions affecting olfaction, assess retronasal olfactory perception, adopt validated self-report tools and explore the impact of olfactory dysfunction on the eating experience of HNC patients.
Related Concept Videos
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Olfaction
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...

