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Olfactory Dysfunction and Olfactory Bulb Volume Reduction in Patients with Leprosy

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Abstract

To ascertain the level and rate of olfactory dysfunction in patients with leprosy and to determine whether olfactory bulb volume is affected by the pathophysiology. Olfactory bulb (OB) volume, measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was compared in 15 patients with leprosy and 15 healthy controls. All of the participants were evaluated using a detailed history to identify the probable causes of the smell dysfunction. Those who had a disease other than leprosy that may have caused the smell dysfunction were excluded from the study. OB volumes were calculated by manually tracing the OB on coronal sections. Orthonasal olfaction testing was used to assess smell function. The orthonasal olfaction testing indicated that all patients with leprosy were anosmic or severely hyposmic. The smell function test indicated that the OB volume of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the control group. No within-group difference was detected between right and left OB volume in either group. The patients in the leprosy group were severely hyposmic or anosmic and their olfactory bulb volume was significantly lower than that of the control group. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show a reduction in olfactory bulb volume among leprosy patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Bezmialem Vakif University, Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bayram Veyseller, Fadlullah Aksoy & Orhan Özturan

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Elbistan State Hospital, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

    Yavuz Selim Yildirim

  3. Kahramanmaraş Elbistan Devlet Hastanesi Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, Karaelbistan, 46300, Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

    Yavuz Selim Yildirim

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Haseki Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    R. Murat Açikalin

  5. Department of Radiology, Haseki Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Defne Gürbüz

Authors
  1. Bayram Veyseller
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  2. Fadlullah Aksoy
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  3. Yavuz Selim Yildirim
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  4. R. Murat Açikalin
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  5. Defne Gürbüz
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  6. Orhan Özturan
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Correspondence to Yavuz Selim Yildirim.

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Veyseller, B., Aksoy, F., Yildirim, Y.S. et al. Olfactory Dysfunction and Olfactory Bulb Volume Reduction in Patients with Leprosy. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 64, 261–265 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0284-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0284-9

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