Chorda-Tympani nerve and polypoidal lesions of the middle ear

ABSTRACT

Seventy patients with polypoidal lesions were tested to detect affection of Chorda-tympani nerve by an electric taste threshold method. Taste threshold was found to be impaired in 18 patients [25.7%]. Subsequently the patients were classified into three groups, by their histopathological criteria, [a] non-neoplastic group [inflammatory polypi], [b] benign neoplasm group, and [c] malignant tumour group. Six of the 55 patients of non-neoplastic polyp group had raised taste threshold. In benign neoplasm group, four out of seven patients had variable degree of taste sensation impairment. In malignant group, all of the patients had more or less severe degree of loss of taste sensation. Thus the present study indicates that impairment for taste threshold on the side of the lesion is a sign of destructive process or compression. It is concluded that in each case of chronic suppurative otitis media with polypoidal or tumourous lesion, taste threshold should be determined. The patients with impairment of taste sensation should be attended first to prevent severe degree of morbidity