Olfactory cleft disease: an analysis of 13 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Olfactory cleft disease was defined as (1) an olfactory disability related with a clinical and/or radiologic abnormality of the olfactory cleft and (2) a pathologic process limited to or predominating in the olfactory cleft. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and radiologic findings of this entity and to report the effect of medical therapy on the sense of smell.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with the criteria of olfactory cleft disease were included in this retrospective study. All patients had bilateral olfactory cleft abnormalities. A complete ENT examination with endoscopic evaluation and a computed tomography scan were performed in all cases. An olfactory threshold test was available in 12 cases before and after medical therapy, which included oral and topically administered steroid therapy.


RESULTS
Olfactory disability was the major symptom of olfactory cleft disease. Other symptoms of chronic rhinosinus dysfunction was present in 75% of cases. Three pathologic processes were identified in patients with olfactory cleft disease: malformative, inflammatory, and inflammatory associated with anatomical deformities of olfactory cleft boundaries. Medical therapy was effective in lowering olfactory thresholds in 25% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Olfactory cleft disease involves various pathophysiologic processes. Computed tomography scanning provides the most information for diagnosis. Indications of functional endoscopic surgery remain to be defined after failure of medical therapy.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Biocicaut Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Necker Enfants-Malades, University Paris V, Paris France. bernard.biacabe@wanadoo.fr
Bernard
B
Biacabe
Patrick
P
Faulcon
Laurent
L
Amanou
Pierre
P
Bonfils
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed