Correlation between Olfactory Dysfunction Measured by T&T Olfactometer and Disease Severity Staged by CT in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Song, Min Sung; Jeon, Sea Young; Ahn, Seong Ki; Park, Jung Je; Jeong, Jae Ho; Hwang, Won Hyo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common etiology in olfactory dysfunction. There have been several studies regarding olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis using olfactory diagnostic tools, other than T & T olfactometer. To establish a relationship between the disease severity and severity of olfactory dysfunction, we evaluated the correlation between disease severity by using sinus CT scan as graded by the Harvard system and olfactory function by using the Butanol threshold test and T & T olfactometer. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifty patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were evaluated. We scored each CT scan on the Harvard system, and the Butanol threshold test and T & T olfactemeter were performed for each patient. Correlation between the CT scores, Butanol test scores and T & T olfactometer scores was assessed. We also assessed for correlation between the 5 odorants used in the T & T olfactometer with the CT scores. RESULTS: The CT scores graded by the Harvard system and the score of Butanol threshold test was correlated significantly (p<0.01). The CT scores and the scores of T & T olfactometer, and those of each odorant used in the T & T olfactometer were correlated significantly (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Using a T & T olfactometer, we found that disease severity is correlated with the severity of olfactory dysfuction. All odorants of T & T olfactometer were similarly correlated with the disease severity.