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Association Between Limited Airflow in Olfactory Cleft and Impaired Olfactory Function: A Systematic Review
Yajie Wei1,2, Xincen Jiang1,2, Yankun Li1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy
|July 21, 2025
Summary
Olfactory cleft airflow significantly impacts olfactory function. Impaired airflow, often due to nasal polyps or structural issues, leads to olfactory dysfunction, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Olfactory function is crucial for quality of life.
- Olfactory cleft (OC) airflow dynamics are complex and influence olfaction.
- Understanding the relationship between OC airflow and olfactory dysfunction is vital for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and summarize literature on OC airflow and olfactory function.
- To evaluate the impact of nasal pathologies on OC airflow and olfaction.
- To explore the role of computational fluid dynamics in diagnosing and treating olfactory disorders.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, OVID, and Cochrane databases.
- Inclusion of 12 studies evaluating OC airflow and olfactory function.
- Analysis of correlations between airflow parameters, olfactory scores, and anatomical variations.
Main Results:
- Healthy individuals show strong correlations between OC airflow and olfactory threshold/discrimination.
- Nasal polyps significantly impair OC airflow and olfactory recognition, with location and volume being critical factors.
- Nasal septum deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy negatively affect olfaction, with surgical interventions showing significant improvement.
Conclusions:
- Impaired OC airflow is strongly associated with olfactory dysfunction.
- Computational fluid dynamics can enhance diagnostic accuracy and guide surgical interventions for olfactory disorders.
- Targeted surgical approaches can improve nasal airflow and olfactory function.
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