[Normal sense of smell in Kallmann syndrome. A case report].
BACKGROUND
Kallmann's syndrome (KS) was first mentioned in 1944 as an association of anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Causes are multiple genetic defects the most common of which is the x-linked KS appearing mostly in men. However, autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive forms have also been described.


METHODS
We present a case of KS with normosmia (male, 39 years of age). All symptoms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were present.


RESULTS
Psychophysical olfactory testing revealed left-sided anosmia with right-sided normosmia which was confirmed by electrophysiological measures of olfactory function. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated aplasia of the left olfactory tract and bulb, whereas the right-sided structures appeared to be normal.


CONCLUSIONS
As indicated in this case with lateralized anosmia and contralateral normosmia, overall olfactory function strongly depends on the "best" nostril. Therefore, in many clinical situations, lateralized olfactory testing appears to be extremely important.
Universitäts-HNO-Klinik, TU Dresden, Dresden.
E G
EG
Wüstenberg
A
A
Fleischer
B
B
Gerbert
N
N
Abolmaali
K B
KB
Hüttenbrink
T
T
Hummel
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017436:Kallmann Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012903:Smell