title: Taste loss and recovery following radiation therapy.
abstract: Previous investigators have reported deficits in taste acuity in patients following radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer. In the present longitudinal study, 13 patients (mean age = 51.6 yrs) received conventional or hyperfractionated radiotherapy (63-76.8 Gy) for primary tumors of the oropharynx. One or both parotid glands and at least two-thirds of the tongue were included in the radiation field. Smell recognition and taste detection thresholds were determined at baseline, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year post-radiation. Differences for smell recognition and the 4 taste qualities were assessed (independently) at the 4 time intervals, with a one-way ANOVA. Smell recognition was unaffected by radiation. There were significant elevations in thresholds for sweet (p < 0.005), salty (p < 0.005), bitter (p < 0.005), and sour (p< 0.001) during radiation therapy that were restored to baseline levels at 6 months and 1 year after radiation. This study demonstrated that radiation-induced taste deficits can be recovered by 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Florida Health Science Center, 1600 SW Archer Road, Room D8-6, PO Box 100414, Gainesville, FL 32610-0414, USA. psandow@dental.ufl.edu
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Sandow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hejrat-Yazdi
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Heft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000370:Ageusia / Q000209:etiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000528:radiation effects