Taste dysfunction after endoscopic endonasal resection of olfactory groove meningioma: Case series and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The incidence of ageusia and dysgeusia after endoscopic endonasal (EEA) resection of olfactory groove meningioma (OGM) is not well established despite recognized impairment in olfactory function. METHODS: We retrospectively administered a validated taste and smell survey to patients undergoing EEA for resection of OGM at two institutions. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected and survey responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve patients completed the survey. The median time from surgery was 24 months. The average total complaint score was 5.5 out of 16 [0-13]. All patients reported a change in sense of smell while only 42 % reported a change in sense of taste. Taste changes did not consistently associate with laterality or size of the neoplasm. Significant heterogeneity existed when rating severity of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first case series examining taste changes after EEA resection of OGM. Despite universal olfactory dysfunction, only a minority of patients reported a change in their sense of taste. Our findings may improve patient counseling and expectations after surgery.

Rate of dupilumab use and symptom severity of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis after Draf 3 frontal sinusotomy.

BACKGROUND: The indications for endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (Draf 3) in patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) remain unclear. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Draf 3 for refractory CRSwNP focusing on improvements in disease severity and need for subsequent dupilumab rescue therapy. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with CRSwNP undergoing Draf 3 surgery at a tertiary center between 2012 and 2022. Clinicodemographic variables were compared across those who did versus did not require rescue with postoperative dupilumab. Time to postoperative dupilumab rescue was analyzed and longitudinal disease-specific outcomes were measured using the sinonasal outcomes test (SNOT-22). RESULTS: Within 87 patients with CRSwNP, 24.1% had aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Significant improvement in SNOT-22 score was found in CRSwNP with AERD (p < 0.001) and without AERD (p = 0.01) up to 24 months postoperative. 14.9% eventually required rescue with a dupilumab. More specifically, of 21 patients with AERD, 24.1% eventually required rescue with dupilumab. Dupilumab rescue was associated with a greater number of prior sinus surgeries (p = 0.02), prior aspirin desensitization (p = 0.02), and worse preoperative Lund-MacKay scores (p < 0.001). No association between biologic rescue and frontal recess antero-posterior diameter was found (p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Draf 3 surgery in CRSwNP was associated with significant improvement in SNOT-22 score at 24 months. Furthermore, only 14.9% of patients required dupilumab rescue. Patients with AERD were more likely to require rescue with dupilumab even though 75.1% avoided treatment with the biologic over the study period.