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Olfactory function following late repair of choanal atresia
Author(s) -
GrossIsseroff Ruth,
Ophir Dov,
Marshak Gabriel,
Ganchrow Judith R.,
Beizer Michael,
Lancet Doron
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198911000-00011
Subject(s) - choanal atresia , olfactory system , atresia , medicine , olfaction , sensory system , surgery , audiology , anatomy , biology , neuroscience , psychiatry
Results of olfactory function tests (threshold determination and odor identification) in three cases of bilateral and one case of unilateral choanal atresia are reported. All four patients underwent successful repair of choanal atresia at relatively advanced ages (8 to 31 years). Test results showed that patients who had suffered from bilateral atresia had permanent olfactory deficits, while the patient who had suffered from unilateral atresia appeared to have normal olfactory acuity. Although these results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of cases examined, they suggest the possibility that early sensory exposure might be needed for the normal development of central olfactory functions in analogy to the visual system.