The effect of human olfactory biopsy on olfaction: a preliminary report.

Normal human olfactory function is subject to a wide variety of factors. Although biopsy of human olfactory neuroepithelium has been reported by several researchers, there are no studies which have evaluated the effect of this procedure on olfactory function. In this retrospective study, we sought to determine if tissue removal from the olfactory cleft has an adverse influence on the sense of smell. Nineteen subjects underwent bilateral olfactory testing and subsequent endoscopic olfactory mucosal biopsy. All subjects were retested 6 weeks to 1 year after olfactory neuroepithelial biopsy. No statistical difference was found between olfactory tests performed before or after biopsy. These data suggest that biopsy of human olfactory neuroepithelium has no discernible adverse effect on the ability to smell.