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. 2020 Nov 9:11:543275.
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.543275. eCollection 2020.

Parosmia and Neurological Disorders: A Neglected Association

Rosella Ciurleo  1 , Simona De Salvo  1 , Lilla Bonanno  1 , Silvia Marino  1 , Placido Bramanti  1 , Fabrizia Caminiti  1
Affiliations

Parosmia and Neurological Disorders: A Neglected Association

Rosella Ciurleo et al. Front Neurol. .

Abstract

Parosmia is a distorted olfactory sensation in the presence of an odor. This olfactory disorder can affect the quality of life of most patients who experience it. Qualitative olfactory dysfunctions, such as parosmia and phantosmia, may be clinical conditions secondary to neurological diseases. The incidence of parosmia is underestimated, as well as its association with neurological diseases, due to poor self-reporting of patients and lack of objective methods for its measure. In this paper, we show selected clinical cases of parosmia associated with neurological disorders, such as traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis. These clinical cases show how the correct diagnosis of parosmia can represent the tip of the iceberg of important underlying neurological disorders and be a good prognostic indicator of their progression or recovery.

Keywords: epilepsy; mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS); multiple sclerosis; parosmia; sniffin sticks test; traumatic brain injury.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of olfaction disorders.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart of olfactory disorders assessment. CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flowchart of olfactory pathway.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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