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Evaluation of the olfactory bulb volume and olfactory threshold in patients with nasal polyps and impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a longitudinal study
Author(s) -
Sadeghi Mohammad,
Amali Amin,
Ezabadi Sara Rahavi,
Motiee-Langroudi Maziar,
Farshchi Samireh,
Mokhtari Zahra
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.21478
Subject(s) - olfactory bulb , olfactory system , medicine , nasal polyps , anterior olfactory nucleus , olfaction , olfactory tubercle , biology , neuroscience , central nervous system , psychiatry
Background Debate still persists on the relation between olfactory bulb volume (OBV) and olfactory function. Many studies suggest that olfactory deprivation decreases the OBV. The aim of this study was to compare the olfactory threshold and OBV of patients with nasal polyps to healthy individuals and to evaluate the impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) on OBV and olfactory threshold. Methods A longitudinal study was carried out in Tehran between 2011 and 2012. Twenty‐two patients with nasal polyps were compared with 37 healthy individuals. Olfactory threshold test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed on all participants. Twenty‐two patients in case group were followed for 6 months after FESS. OBV and olfactory threshold were measured after 6 months. Results There was no significant difference between the age, gender, and OBV of the 2 groups. However, the difference between olfactory threshold was significant ( p = 0.005). The olfactory threshold showed no significant relation with OBV ( p > 0.05). The correlation between Lund‐Mackay score and the mean total OBV and left OBV was significant ( r = −0.15, p = 0.045; r = −0.22, p = 0.047; respectively). The decrease in olfactory threshold measured after FESS was statistically significant. Right, left, and total OBV significantly increased after FESS. Conclusion The results of our study show that FESS has a significant impact on OBV increment and olfactory threshold decrement. The olfactory bulb is a plastic structure and improvement in peripheral olfactory function results in increase in OBV. However, further studies are mandated, in order to establish this result.