title: Dysgeusia related to urinary obstruction from benign prostatic disease: a case control and qualitative study.
abstract: Anecdotal reports suggest that dysgeusia may be related to a variety of systemic factors, including bladder outflow obstruction. This is a hospital-based case-controlled study involving 111 patients who were admitted to urological wards for transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic disease with age- and sex-matched control of 137 subjects. We used a semi-structured questionnaire by a trained interviewer at admission (preoperative), at the postoperative period and at follow-up between 4-6 months (median 5 months). Analysis used unpaired t-test and chi(2) test. The incidence of dysgeusia was 22% in the study group and 13% in the control group (P=N.S.). However, strikingly, the dysgeusia in the study group was relieved promptly by relief of urinary obstruction in 100% of cases and did not return within the follow-up period. The mechanism of the dysgeusia associated with dysuria in benign prostatic disease is unknown, but we suggest that the dysgeusia could be from the stress of dysuria or due to a release of an unknown chemical from the urinary tract or an overflow of neural impulse from pontine/cortical micturition centres to the taste centres. An association between dysgeusia and dysuria has not been described before.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5ND, UK. eva.hicks@nbt.nhs.uk
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mal
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Birchall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D053159:Dysuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000150:complications*