2b. Laryngoscope, 125:1763-1766, 2015.

This study demonstrated that OSA had significant negative effects on all orthonasal olfactory tasks, especially on threshold and discrimination. MRI also revealed volumetric shrinkage of OB volumes.

BackgroundOlfactory assessment is often neglected in clinical practice, although olfactory loss can assist in diagnosis and may lead to significant morbidity. “Sniffin’ Sticks” is a modern test of nasal chemosensory performance that was developed in Germany and validated in many countries. Our aim was to validate the applicability of “Sniffin’ Sticks” in a Turkish population.Material/MethodsThe study included 123 healthy volunteers with a reported normal sense of smell and 51 patients complaining of a reduction in their olfactory function presenting either at rhinology or neurology clinics. The mean age of the subjects tested was 30.2±12.5 years in 126 males and 48 females. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to subjective olfactory function – healthy or abnormal. Each subject’s olfactory function was assessed using the “Sniffin’ Sticks” test.ResultsWe found significant differences in “Sniffin’ Sticks” test results between the abnormal and healthy groups. In healthy subjects, the 10th percentiles of odor threshold score, odor discrimination score, odor identification score, and TDI score were 7.25, 12, 11, and 32, respectively. Considering the 2 groups together, apple and turpentine were the least well-recognized odors from the 16 odors presented.ConclusionsOur study provides an update of normative values for routine clinical use of “Sniffin’ Sticks” in a Turkish population. Also, the present study validates that “Sniffin’ Sticks” olfactory test was applicable for clinical usage in a Turkish population.

Questioning patients who present with halitosis, taste, or smelling disorders is important to diagnose LPR.

One of the most common reasons for partial nasal obstruction is nasal septal deviation (NSD). The effect of a partial lateralized nasal obstruction on olfactory bulb (OB) volume remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the side differences in olfactory function and OB in patients with serious NSD. Sixty-five volunteers were included: 22 patients with serious right NSD and 43 patients with left NSD. The patients' mean age was 22 years. All participants received volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scans of the entire brain and detailed lateralized olfactory tests. The majority of the patients exhibited an overall decreased olfactory function (as judged for the better nostril: functional anosmia in 3%, hyposmia in 72%, normosmia in 25%), which seems to be mostly due to the overall severe changes in nasal anatomy. As expected, olfactory function was significantly lower at the narrower side as indicated for odor thresholds, odor discrimination, and odor identification (P ≤ 0.005). When correlating relative scores and volumes (wider minus narrower side), a significantly positive correlation between the relative measures emerged for OB volume and odor identification, odor discrimination, and odor thresholds. Our study clearly highlights that septal deviation results in decreased olfactory function at the narrower side.