Chemosensory Functions After Glossectomy-A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Chemosensation Research
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Glossectomy, the surgical removal of the tongue, can significantly impact chemosensory functions, including taste and olfaction.
• Understanding compensatory mechanisms is crucial for managing post-surgical quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between subjective taste perception and objective chemosensory function (taste and olfaction) in patients following glossectomy.
• To explore potential compensatory roles of orthonasal and retronasal olfaction in mitigating taste impairment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional pilot study involving 25 glossectomy patients.
• Assessment of gustatory function using the Taste strip test (TST), orthonasal olfaction with the Sniffin' Sticks odor identification test kit (ISST), and retronasal olfaction with the Candy Smell-27 test (CST-27).
• Self-assessment of taste, flavor, and odor perception using Visual Analog Scales (VAS) correlated with psychophysical test results.

Main Results:

• Only 32% of patients demonstrated normal taste function, and 52% had normal orthonasal olfaction, while 84% exhibited normal retronasal olfaction.
• Neither the extent of resection/reconstruction nor prior radiotherapy significantly affected chemosensory function.
• A significant discrepancy was observed between patients' self-rated taste/flavor perception (80% acceptable) and objective test results, with no correlation found between self-assessments and psychophysical measures.

Conclusions:

• Glossectomy patients often overestimate their taste and flavor perception compared to objective assessments.
• The preserved retronasal olfactory function may play a compensatory role in maintaining perceived flavor and taste quality after glossectomy.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the interplay between gustatory and olfactory systems post-glossectomy.