The future of early disease detection? Applications of electronic nose technology in otolaryngology.

INTRODUCTION: Recent advances in electronic nose technology, and successful clinical applications, are facilitating the development of new methods for rapid, bedside diagnosis of disease. There is a real clinical need for such new diagnostic tools in otolaryngology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a critical review of recent advances in electronic nose technology and current applications in otolaryngology. RESULTS: The literature reports evidence of accurate diagnosis of common otolaryngological conditions such as sinusitis (acute and chronic), chronic suppurative otitis media, otitis externa and nasal vestibulitis. A significant recent development is the successful identification of biofilm-producing versus non-biofilm-producing pseudomonas and staphylococcus species. CONCLUSION: Electronic nose technology holds significant potential for enabling rapid, non-invasive, bedside diagnosis of otolaryngological disease.