Olfactory sensations produced by high-energy photon irradiation of the olfactory receptor mucosa in humans

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 771 - 776
• Main Authors: Sagar, Stephen M., Thomas, Robert J., Loverock, L.T., Spittle, Margaret F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: 560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man; Adenoma - radiotherapy; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; BODY; BRAIN; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; Craniopharyngioma - radiotherapy; DISEASES; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Humans; Medical sciences; MEDICINE; MEMBRANES; MUCOUS MEMBRANES; Nasal Mucosa - radiation effects; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; NEOPLASMS; NERVOUS SYSTEM; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; Odor; Olfaction; OLFACTORY BULBS; Olfactory Pathways - radiation effects; ORGANS; Ozone; PATIENTS; Pituitary Neoplasms - radiotherapy; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; RADICALS; RADIOLOGY; RADIOTHERAPY; Retrospective Studies; Sensory Receptor Cells - radiation effects; SIDE EFFECTS; Smell - radiation effects; Surveys and Questionnaires; Symptoms; THERAPY; Tumors; Ozone; Radiotherapy; Odor; Symptoms; Olfaction; Radionuclide study; Human; High energy; Nervous receptor; Photon
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/0360-3016(91)90021-U

During irradiation of volumes that incorporate the olfactory system, a proportion of patients have complained of a pungent smell. A retrospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of this side-effect. A questionnaire was sent to 40 patients whose treatment volumes included the olfactory region and also to a control group treated away from this region. The irradiated tumor volumes included the frontal lobe, whole brain, nasopharynx, pituitary fossa, and maxillary antrum. Of the 25 patients who replied, 60% experienced odorous symptoms during irradiation. They described the odor as unpleasant and consistent with ozone. Stimulation of olfactory receptors is considered to be caused by the radiochemical formation of ozone and free radicals in the mucus overlying the olfactory mucosa.