OBJECTIVE: To assess taste function before and after tonsillectomy (TE). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-five patients (42 females, 23 males; mean age, 28 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Taste function was investigated before TE with 4 concentrations each of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter quality, respectively, on both sides of the anterior and posterior areas of the tongue. Self-assessment of gustatory function was performed by visual analogue scales. Thirty-two patients were retested 64 to 173 days after TE. Thirty-three patients could not be retested after TE but were interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: Self-assessed taste function significantly decreased (P=.001). Yet, none of the subjects reported taste dysfunction. Tonsillectomy had no major effect on taste test scores (P>.27). CONCLUSION: Persisting taste dysfunction seems to be rare after TE.
OBJECTIVE: To assess taste function before and after tonsillectomy (TE). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-five patients (42 females, 23 males; mean age, 28 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Taste function was investigated before TE with 4 concentrations each of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter quality, respectively, on both sides of the anterior and posterior areas of the tongue. Self-assessment of gustatory function was performed by visual analogue scales. Thirty-two patients were retested 64 to 173 days after TE. Thirty-three patients could not be retested after TE but were interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: Self-assessed taste function significantly decreased (P=.001). Yet, none of the subjects reported taste dysfunction. Tonsillectomy had no major effect on taste test scores (P>.27). CONCLUSION: Persisting taste dysfunction seems to be rare after TE.
Authors: Basile Nicolas Landis; Antje Welge-Luessen; Annika Brämerson; Mats Bende; Christian Albert Mueller; Steven Nordin; Thomas Hummel Journal: J Neurol Date: 2009-02-07 Impact factor: 4.849