Posttraumatic anosmia: olfactory event related potentials and MRI evaluation / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Using olfactory event related potentials (OERP) and magnetic resonance to evaluate olfactory function in patients with posttraumatic anosmia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty four patients with posttraumatic anosmia were reviewed retrospectively. A thorough medical history, physical examination, nasal endoscopy, T&T olfactory testing, olfactory event-related potentials, brain computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance image of olfactory pathway were performed in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Subjective olfactory testing indicated 20 of 24 patients were birhinal anosmia, 2 with right nostril anosmia and left impairment, 2 with left anosmia and right normal. No OERP were obtained in 24 (20 were birhinal, 4 was monorhinal), except 4 cases with single nostril. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the injures to the olfactory bulbs (100%), rectus gyrus (91.7%), orbital gyrus (67%), olfactory tracts (8%) and temporal lobes (8%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>OERP can objectively evaluate posttraumatic olfactory function, and magnetic resonance of olfactory pathway can precisely identify the location and extent of injures.</p>

Clinical research of patients with congenital anosmia / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report on a series of patients with congenital anosmia, and to discuss its classification and clinical characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight patients with congenital anosmia were reviewed retrospectively. Four of eight cases were congenital anosmia with other abnormalities, including three cases with Kallmann's syndrome, one with hypoplasia of nasal cavity and nasal sinus. Four cases were isolated congenital anosmia. A thorough medical and chemosensory history, physical examination, nasal endoscopy, T&T olfactory testing, olfactory event-related potentials and sinonasal computed tomography scan were performed in all patients. Magnetic resonance image of olfactory pathway was available in seven cases, and olfactory biopsies were done in two cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients reported had never been able to smell anything. ENT physical examination and nasal endoscopy were normal, except one case with hypoplasia of nasal cavity. Subjective olfactory test indicated all of them were anosmia. No olfactory event-related potentials to maximum stimulus were obtained. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the absence of olfactory bulbs and tracts in six cases, hypoplasia of bilateral olfactory bulbs and tracts in one case. Computed tomography scan indicated normal except hypoplasia of nasal cavity and sinus in one case. Three cases with Kallmann syndrome showed poor development of both primary and secondary sexual characteristics and had decreased serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone and estradiol.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Diagnosis of congenital anosmia is established on chief complain, physical examination, nasal endoscopy, olfactory testing and olfactory imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging of olfactory pathway is indispensable.</p>

Diagnostic value for detection of aspergillus ribosomal RNA in fungal rhinosinusitis with hybridization in situ / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a reliable, rapid assay for detecting pathogenic aspergillus species in fungal sinusitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-seven formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded surgical tissue specimens from patients with fungal sinusitis were used in the present study. The aspergillus specific oligonucleotide probe was designed, commercially synthesized, and digoxigenin-labeled. Twenty-three-base oligonucleotides was selected that was complementary to 18S ribosomal RNA sequences (18S-1 probe) for detecting medically important aspergillus species.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In situ hybridization for aspergillus rRNA was positive in 28 cases with the 18S-1 probe. Compared with HE (21) and methenamine-silver stain (23).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In situ hybridization provides rapid and accurate identification for fungal organism in tissues, and may be useful if cultures are negative or have not performed.</p>