Lateralized normosmia in a patient with Kallmann's syndrome.

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Background: Kallmann's syndrome (KS) was first mentioned in 1944 as an association of anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Causes are multiple genetic defects the most common of which is the x-linked KS appearing mostly in men. However, autosomal dominat and autosomal recessive forms have also been described. Patient: We present a case of KS with normosmia (male, 39 years of age). All symptoms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were present. Results: Psychophysical olfactory testing revealed left-sided anosmia with right-sided normosmia which was confirmed by electrophysiological measures of olfactory function. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated aplasia of the left olfactory tract and bulb, whereas the right-sided structures appeared to be normal. Conclusions: As indicated in this case with lateralized anosmia and contralateral normosmia, overall olfactory function strongly depends on the "best" nostril. Therefore, in many clinical situations, lateralized olfactory testing appears to be extremely important.

Details

Original languageGerman
Pages (from-to)85-89
Number of pages5
JournalLaryngo-Rhino-Otologie
Volume80
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2001
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 11253570
Scopus 0035115915
ORCID /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/146645567

Keywords

Keywords

  • "Sniffin' Sticks", Mri, Lateralisation, Olfaction, Olfactory event-related potentials