Document Detail


Gustatory and olfactory function in breast cancer patients.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19495808     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: Loss of appetite is a common complaint in cancer patients. There is still no overall conclusion whether this symptom might be caused by distorted taste/smell function or by tumor byproducts. This knowledge would be important for adequate patient counseling as well as symptom relief. Several studies investigated taste function, but to our knowledge, only one studied olfactory function in cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine breast cancer patients were investigated by a validated taste (taste strips) and smell test (Sniffin' Sticks) prior to chemotherapy. RESULTS: Compared to normative data, breast cancer patients showed no significant difference in odor threshold, but better scores for odor identification and odor discrimination. For taste, breast cancer patients showed a significantly lower value for the quality sour compared to healthy controls only on left side of the tongue; there was no difference in the qualities sweet, salty, and bitter. An increase in tumor size was associated with a significant decrease in olfactory function, but not in gustatory function. Different histology or graduation of breast cancer, resection status, or metastasis to the lung and liver had no influence on taste and smell. There was no correlation between taste and smell to estrogen or progesterone receptor status. There was no correlation between smell and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2 status), but there was a significant correlation between bitter taste and Her2 status. CONCLUSION: Taste/smell did not seem substantially altered in breast cancer patients compared to normative data. Nevertheless, increasing tumor burden resulted in decreased olfactory function, but not in taste changes.
Authors:
Silke Steinbach; Walter Hundt; Thomas Zahnert; Sabina Berktold; Christina Böhner; Nina Gottschalk; Moritz Hamann; Monika Kriner; Petra Heinrich; Barbara Schmalfeldt; Nadia Harbeck
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2009-06-03
Journal Detail:
Title:  Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer     Volume:  18     ISSN:  1433-7339     ISO Abbreviation:  Support Care Cancer     Publication Date:  2010 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-21     Completed Date:  2010-09-22     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9302957     Medline TA:  Support Care Cancer     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  707-13     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University, Dresden, Germany. Silkesteinbach@hotmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Breast Neoplasms / complications*,  pathology*
Female
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Olfaction Disorders / etiology*
Prospective Studies
Taste Disorders / etiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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