title: Olfactory changes after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for skull base tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The increased number of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches (EETSA) has been associated with sinonasal complications such as olfactory dysfunction. Current studies have compared preoperative and postoperative olfactory function according to surgical type and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of medical records at a tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were divided into two groups according to surgical type and into four groups according to age. The two surgical groups were defined based on the bilateral nasoseptal flap technique (group A: right conventional nasoseptal flap and left modified nasoseptal rescure flap; group B: bilateral modified nasoseptal rescue flap). The four age groups were ≤ 30, 31-45, 46-60, and ≥ 61 years. Patients underwent preoperative olfactory function evaluation using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center Test (CCCRC), and the Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CCSIT). Repeat testing was performed 6-months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 226 patients who underwent binostril four-hand EETSA were included in this study. In both groups A and B, the olfactory function was significantly decreased according to CCCRC and CCSIT scores (P < 0.05). The VAS scores were significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.05). The symptom scores and olfactory test results were significantly changed in >30-year-old patients who had undergone EETSA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EETSA might contribute to olfactory dysfunction independent of surgery type. In addition, age may affect the restoration of olfaction after EETSA. Patients who plan to undergo EETSA must be informed that their olfaction may be impaired.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Boo-Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Gu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sung W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sin-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jeun
authors.forename: Soo W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Dong C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yong J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nasal symptom; age; endoscope; olfactory change; skull base tumor; transsphenoidal approach