Testicular cancer patients undergoing cisplatin based chemotherapy exhibit temporary olfactory threshold scores changes.

Abstract

Testicular cancer is the most frequent malignant disease in young males between 15 and 35 years. Platinum based chemotherapy regimen is the therapy of choice in advanced disease. This treatment has also adverse effects caused by the cytostatic active substances, such as olfactory dysfunctions. The aim of this study was, therefore, to monitor olfactory function of testicular cancer patients during and 6 months after chemotherapy. A total of 17 patients (mean age 31.06 ± 10.26 years), which underwent chemotherapy (mean 2.47 cycles ± 0.5) were enrolled in this study. Odor threshold, discrimination and identification were assessed by means of the "Sniffin' Sticks" prior to and on day 42, 90 and 180 after chemotherapy has been completed. Furthermore, patients' ratings of olfactory function and depressive symptoms were evaluated. Threshold scores were significantly lower on day 90 (8.0 ± 2.51) compared to baseline (10.4 ± 2.20) (p = 0.014) and recovered almost completely on day 180 (9.65 ± 3.26). Odor discrimination and identification did not show significant changes during therapy. The decrease of the olfactory function during/immediately after chemotherapy was underlined by the subjectively perceived impaired olfactory function during this time. In addition almost every fourth patient presented with a depressed mood at the beginning of chemotherapy. Patients should be informed about possible transient olfactory impairment during/immediately after chemotherapy.

• Authors: Ute Walliczek-Dworschak, Volker Gudziol, Claudia Mitzschke, Michael Froehner, Thomas Hummel
• Journal: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 274 Issue 7 Pg. 2813-2818 (Jul 2017) ISSN: 1434-4726 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 28429112 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Cisplatin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cisplatin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Olfaction Disorders (chemically induced, diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Prospective Studies
• Seminoma (drug therapy)
• Sensory Thresholds (drug effects)
• Smell (drug effects)
• Testicular Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult