title: Gustatory function after tonsillectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess taste function before and after tonsillectomy (TE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients (42 females, 23 males; mean age, 28 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Taste function was investigated before TE with 4 concentrations each of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter quality, respectively, on both sides of the anterior and posterior areas of the tongue. Self-assessment of gustatory function was performed by visual analogue scales. Thirty-two patients were retested 64 to 173 days after TE. Thirty-three patients could not be retested after TE but were interviewed by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-assessed taste function significantly decreased (P=.001). Yet, none of the subjects reported taste dysfunction. Tonsillectomy had no major effect on taste test scores (P>.27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persisting taste dysfunction seems to be rare after TE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, AKH Vienna, Austria, and Rhinology-Olfactory Unit, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. chr.mue@gmx.at
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Saher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.forename: Basile N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: Andreas F P
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Temmel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013649:Taste; D013652:Taste Threshold; D014068:Tonsillectomy