Olfactory dysfunction management following unilateral cranial resection for olfactory neuroblastoma

Despite advances in techniques for olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), such as unilateral cranial resection, preserving the patient’s sense of smell remains a challenge. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of post-operative olfactory training in patients who underwent unilateral resection of ONB.

This retrospective cohort study assessed the effect of post-operative olfactory training on olfactory preservation in patients with ONB undergoing unilateral cranial resection. Patients were divided into training intervention (n = 5) and non-intervention (n = 6) groups. Olfactory tests were conducted pre-operatively and at multiple post-operative intervals.

Partial olfactory function was preserved in all cases in the training intervention group, whereas only 17% of cases in the non-intervention group maintained partial olfactory function. Significant improvements in olfactory test scores were observed in the training intervention group compared with the non-intervention group.

Our findings suggest that post-operative olfactory training could aid in olfactory preservation for patients with ONB after unilateral cranial resection. However, these results should be interpreted with caution, and further research with larger cohorts and extended follow-up periods is needed to confirm these observations.