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Gustatory Function After Tonsillectomy
Christian A. Mueller, MD;
Saher Khatib;
Basile N. Landis, MD;
Andreas F. P. Temmel, MD;
Thomas Hummel, MD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;133(7):668-671.
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.
Author Affiliations: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Drs Mueller and Temmel and Mr Khatib); Rhinology-Olfactory Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland (Dr Landis); and Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany (Dr Hummel).
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