Gustatory alteration evaluation in patients with chronic otitis media

Abstract

Many studies have shown the consequent gustatory alteration caused by ear surgeries. However, few have reported this alteration in patients with chronic otitis media (COM), prior to surgical treatment. Aim: to identify gustatory alterations due to chorda tympani nerve involvement in patients with COM without prior surgery. Methods: Clinical essay, with tests based on "taste strips" with different concentrations of salt, sweet, bitter, and sour, was performed in 45 patients with unilateral cholesteatomatous or suppurated COM not previously submitted to otological surgery, using the disease-free ear on the contralateral side as control. The score ranged between 0 and 16. Results: A total of 25 patients presented cholesteatoma and 20 had non-cholesteatomatous disease. The mean score was 6.65 for the affected side and 9.93 for the half of the tongue on the side of the healthy ear (p<0.001). No patients had complained of gustatory alterations before the examination. Among the 24 patients with unilateral hypogeusia, eight cases of unilateral ageusia were found on the affected side. There was an association between cholesteatoma (p=0.055), disease duration (p=0.07) and worsening in gustatory sensitivity. Conclusion: Patients with COM can have gustatory alterations, even in the absence of complaints.

Preoperative Assessment of Taste Function in Patients With Middle Ear Disease

“…In our study, there were no significant differences among the 4 taste qualities. Landis et al (6) and Felix et al (7) also reported that filter paper taste strips detected significant differences between each taste type. However, we found that CTN damage did not cause significant differences among the 4 taste qualities.…”

“…Sano et al (8) reported that the EGM thresholds of patients with COM and cholesteatoma were significantly higher than those of patients with otosclerosis. Landis et al (6) and Felix et al (7) studied taste function in patients with chronic inflammatory middle ear diseases using filter paper taste strips and concluded that chronic inflammatory middle ear diseases affect taste function. Furthermore, they reported that the mean taste scores were significantly higher on the healthy side than on the affected side in patients with COM and cholesteatoma.…”

“…In patients with chronic otitis media (COM), the CTN can also be forced into the middle ear space and hence become exposed to middle ear infection. Landis et al (6) and Felix et al (7) studied taste function in patients with chronic inflammatory middle ear disease using filter paper taste strips and concluded that chronic inflammatory middle ear disease affected taste function. Sano et al (8) performed taste tests using electrogustometry (EGM) in patients with chronic inflammatory middle ear disease and compared their taste thresholds.…”

Comparison of gustatory function between mucosal and squamous disease: a randomised controlled study

“…17 The Journal of Laryngology & Otology of the patients and the duration of the disease with the preoperative or post-operative taste score in both groups in any of the follow-up periods, as described by Goyal et al 12 In contrast, Felix et al concluded that the duration of the disease and the pre-operative morbidities adversely affect the gustatory outcome of a patient with otitis media. 20 As described by Sone et al, the chance of recovery for younger patients is better than for older patients. 21 When gustatory scores were compared in patients with and without the preservation of the chorda tympani nerve in mucosal disease, we did not find any significant difference in improvement between the two groups.…”

“…concluded that the duration of the disease and the pre-operative morbidities adversely affect the gustatory outcome of a patient with otitis media. 20 As described by Sone et al ., the chance of recovery for younger patients is better than for older patients. 21 When gustatory scores were compared in patients with and without the preservation of the chorda tympani nerve in mucosal disease, we did not find any significant difference in improvement between the two groups.…”