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Electrical taste detection thresholds and chemical smell detection thresholds in patients with cancer
Author(s) -
Ovesen Lars,
Sørensen Merete,
Hannibal Jens,
Allingstrup Lene
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19911115)68:10<2260::aid-cncr2820681026>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , taste , cancer , sensory threshold , breast cancer , detection threshold , gastroenterology , food science , psychology , chemistry , cognitive science , real time computing , computer science
Taste sensation in patients with cancer has previously been studied with the cumbersome method of chemical gustometry, which have produced inconsistent results. In this study taste thresholds were determined with the simple and reliable technique of electrogustometry in 51 patients with cancers of the lung (small cell), ovary or breast, and in 29 matched control patients with nonneoplastic disease. Chemical smell thresholds for phenyl‐methyl‐ethyl‐carbinol were studied in the same group of patients. Electrical taste threshold was higher in patients with cancer compared with control patients (30 [12 to 80] μA versus 9.5 [6.1 to 24] μA; median [interquartile range], P < 0.001). No differences were seen in smell thresholds. Patients who responded to chemotherapy obtained a decreased electrogustometric threshold at time of reevaluation (24 [8 to 64] μA versus 30 [15 to 90] μA; median [interquartile range], P < 0.05). These results suggest an effect of the malignant disease itself on taste thresholds. Cancer 68:2260–2265, 1991.