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Dysgeusia related to urinary obstruction from benign prostatic disease: a case control and qualitative study

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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 X2 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.

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Acknowledgements

Our thanks to Professor Paul Abrams for allowing access to patients in his department, also to the staff of the Urology Department for their help and to Mrs. Eva Hicks for administrative help and her infinite patience.

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  1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5ND, UK

    R. K. Mal & M. A. Birchall

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  1. R. K. Mal
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  2. M. A. Birchall
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Correspondence to R. K. Mal.

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Mal, R.K., Birchall, M.A. Dysgeusia related to urinary obstruction from benign prostatic disease: a case control and qualitative study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 263, 176–179 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-005-0973-7

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