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Evaluation of olfactory bulb volume and insular cortex area in children with adenoid hypertrophy: A retrospective MRI
Yasin Teki̇n1, Ziya Şencan1, Nuray Bayar Muluk1
1Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Medicine, ENT Department, Kırıkkale, Türkiye.
Objectives:
In this study, central and peripheral olfactory areas were examined in patients with adenoid hypertrophy; Based on the idea that adenoid hypertrophy may cause smell impairment, its effect on olfactory bulb volumes and insular cortex areas was evaluated.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 60 male and 61 female patients who had Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and had no comorbidities. In MRI measurements, patients with adenoid tissue to nasopharyngeal air column ratio >%50 were designated as the patient group with adenoid hypertrophy (25 boys, 22 girls) (Group 1), and patients with adenoid tissue to nasopharyngeal air column ratio ≤ %50 were designated as the control group (35 boys, 39 girls). (Group 2). Olfactory bulb volumes and insular cortex areas in cranial MRI sections; adenoid width, nasopharyngeal distance, air column and soft palate measurements were taken.
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences between olfactory bulb volume and insular cortex area of children with adenoid hypertrophy and the control group (p > 0.05). In the groups we evaluated, it was observed that there was a linear relationship between air column measurements, which became smaller as the adenoid tissue grew, and bilateral olfactory bulb measurements (p < 0.05). It was also determined that there was a directly proportional relationship between olfactory bulb measurements and insular cortex areas. (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
In children with adenoid hypertrophy with the ratio of adenoid width to nasopharyngeal air column distance is >%50, the reduction in olfactory bulb volumes and insular cortex areas is more pronounced. There is a statistically insignificant difference in olfactory bulb volume, with a tendency to be smaller in children with adenoid hypertrophy. It was concluded that adenoid hypertrophy might cause decrease in the olfactory areas (olfactory bulb volume and insular cortex area) and could be an important cause of smell impairment.
