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Clinical presentation of qualitative olfactory dysfunction

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Abstract

Many patients with olfactory dysfunction not only experience quantitative reduction of olfactory function, but also suffer from distorted olfactory sensations. This qualitative dysfunction is referred to as parosmia (also called “troposmia”) or phantosmia, with the major difference that distorted olfactory sensations are experienced in the presence or absence of an odor, respectively. Our clinical observations corroborate the literature in terms of a general underestimation of the incidence of olfactory distortions. Based on selected cases we try to show that olfactory distortions exhibit a large variance in their clinical appearance. Further, emphasis is placed on the fact that only a detailed and directed history of the patient can provide cues to the correct diagnosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research FNSRS (no. 3100A0-100621-1) to JSL, and a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG HU441/2-1) to TH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 , Dresden, Germany

    J. Frasnelli, B. N. Landis, S. Heilmann, B. Hauswald, K. B. Hüttenbrink & T. Hummel

  2. Unité de Rhinologie-Olfactologie, ENT Department, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    B. N. Landis & J. S. Lacroix

  3. Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    D. A. Leopold

Authors
  1. J. Frasnelli
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  2. B. N. Landis
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  3. S. Heilmann
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  4. B. Hauswald
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  5. K. B. Hüttenbrink
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  6. J. S. Lacroix
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  7. D. A. Leopold
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  8. T. Hummel
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Correspondence to T. Hummel.

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Frasnelli, J., Landis, B.N., Heilmann, S. et al. Clinical presentation of qualitative olfactory dysfunction. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 261, 411–415 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-003-0703-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-003-0703-y

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