AIM: The purpose of this study was estimation of taste and smell senses functioning in patients with nasal polyps and the analysis of correlation between taste and smell perception threshold and polyps size. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included 86 persons. The 35 of them were patients of Otolaryngology Department of Warsaw Military Institute with nasal polyps diagnosis. There were 51 healthy people as a control group. The smell perception examination was performed using Elsberg-Levy method in Pruszewicz modification. The gustatory function was investigated using gustatory method by Börstein and electrogustometry. The Börstein method based on four substances (each of them in three increasing concentrations) related to four basic tastes: sweet (glucose), bitter (chininum hydrochloride), sour (citric acid) and salty (sodium chloride). The taste feeling threshold (POS), that meant the lowest concentration of each solution being correctly recognized by a person, was noticed for each taste. For quantitative estimation of taste perception threshold we included impulse electrogustometry with bipolar electrode. RESULTS: In our study the taste disturbances were observed, depending on kind of taste, in 20-70% cases in gustometry and for 13 patients in electrogustometry. Abnormal olfactory results we diagnosed in more then 57% patients. We did not confirmed correlation between taste perception threshold and polyps size but polyps size influenced on olfactory results. CONCLUSIONS: Smell and taste disturbances are very often symptoms of nasal polyposis. The taste and olfactory estimation ought to be integral part of routine patient examination in otolaryngology department.
AIM: The purpose of this study was estimation of taste and smell senses functioning in patients with nasal polyps and the analysis of correlation between taste and smell perception threshold and polyps size. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included 86 persons. The 35 of them were patients of Otolaryngology Department of Warsaw Military Institute with nasal polyps diagnosis. There were 51 healthy people as a control group. The smell perception examination was performed using Elsberg-Levy method in Pruszewicz modification. The gustatory function was investigated using gustatory method by Börstein and electrogustometry. The Börstein method based on four substances (each of them in three increasing concentrations) related to four basic tastes: sweet (glucose), bitter (chininum hydrochloride), sour (citric acid) and salty (sodium chloride). The taste feeling threshold (POS), that meant the lowest concentration of each solution being correctly recognized by a person, was noticed for each taste. For quantitative estimation of taste perception threshold we included impulse electrogustometry with bipolar electrode. RESULTS: In our study the taste disturbances were observed, depending on kind of taste, in 20-70% cases in gustometry and for 13 patients in electrogustometry. Abnormal olfactory results we diagnosed in more then 57% patients. We did not confirmed correlation between taste perception threshold and polyps size but polyps size influenced on olfactory results. CONCLUSIONS: Smell and taste disturbances are very often symptoms of nasal polyposis. The taste and olfactory estimation ought to be integral part of routine patient examination in otolaryngology department.