Taste loss and recovery following radiation therapy.
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.
Sandow
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PL
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
Hejrat-Yazdi
M
M
Heft
M W
MW
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