Three cases report of olfactory cleft disease / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report a new entity-olfactory cleft disease, and summarize the clinical characteristics, computerized tomography presentation, as well as the effect of trial therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three patients with chief complaint of anosmia were evaluated by thorough ENT examination, T&T olfactory testing, sinonasal endoscopy; sinonasal computerized tomography imaging, and olfactory event-related potentials. All patients accepted trial therapy including antibiotics and corticosteroid.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete obstruction of bilateral olfactory cleft with cleft mucosal edema was seen during endoscopy in all 3 patients. Anosmia was determined in all patients by T&T olfactory testing. No olfactory event-related potentials was identified in all patients. CT revealed soft tissue image limited to bilateral olfactory cleft. No olfactory improvement was found in 2 patients after trial medical therapy. One patient had transitory olfactory improvement after corticosteroid treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Olfactory cleft disease is a new entity, with chief complaint of anosmia. Nasal endoscopy and computed tomography scanning provides the most information for the diagnosis. Effect of medical therapy is poor.</p>