A systematic review of smell alterations after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

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A systematic review of smell alterations after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Cancer Treat Rev. 2017 Feb 16;54:110-121

Authors: Álvarez-Camacho M, Gonella S, Campbell S, Scrimger RA, Wismer WV

Abstract
PURPOSE: To review the current knowledge on radiotherapy associated olfactory dysfunction among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.
METHODS: A systematic review of RT-related olfactory dysfunction in HNC was performed. Searches were conducted in several databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, CAB Abstracts, SCOPUS, Proquest Dissertations and Theses, PROSPERO, ALLEBM Reviews - Cochrane DSR, ACP Journal Club, DARE, CCTR, CMR, HTA, and NHSEED). Publications investigating olfactory dysfunction as an explicit side effect of Radiotherapy (RT, or RT-chemo or RT-monoclonal antibodies) were eligible, no limits were applied.
RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-nine papers were screened and 23 met inclusion criteria.
CONCLUSIONS: Odor detection, identification and discrimination are olfactory functions impaired after RT for HNC. An RT dose-effect has been calculated for odor identification and odor discrimination. There were no studies of the effect of olfactory dysfunction on weight loss or energy intake among RT-treated HNC patients. To improve our understanding of RT associated olfactory dysfunction among HNC patients, future studies should include a multi-dimensional assessment of olfactory function in a longitudinal design, track other conditions affecting olfaction, assess retronasal olfactory perception, adopt validated self-report tools and explore the impact of olfactory dysfunction on the eating experience of HNC patients.

PMID: 28242521 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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