The Use of Imaging to Detect Intracranial Tumors in Idiopathic Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review. Issue 2 (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Birkenbeuel, Jack L.; Cheung, Dillon C.; Sahyouni, Ronald; Goshtasbi, Khodayar; Chua, Janice T.; Choy, Joseph A. I.; Bitner, Benjamin; Kuan, Edward C.
• Is Part Of: American journal of rhinology & allergy. Volume 34:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 297
• Page End: 305
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: olfactory disorders -- tumor -- tumor detection -- anosmia -- idiopathic olfactory loss -- sinonasal tumor -- intracranial tumor -- intracranial imaging -- systematic review; Nose -- Periodicals; Allergy -- Periodicals; 616.21005
• DOI: 10.1177/1945892419889325
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1945-8924

Abstract

Objectives: To review the literature regarding the use of intracranial imaging as a screening tool for idiopathic olfactory loss (IOL) and to review the incidence of identifying a sinonasal or intracranial neoplasm as a result of intracranial imaging. Methods: A systematic review of published English-language literature was performed using PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Results: Of the 694 available abstracts, 5 met inclusion criteria for this review. Out of 470 eligible patients, intracranial imaging identified tumors causing IOL in 8 patients (1.7%). Tumor detection rates ranged from 0% to 4.9%. Of the 470 eligible patients, intracranial imaging detected intracranial or sinonasal pathology, excluding tumors, causing IOL in 53 patients (11%). The findings ranged from 0.77% to 23%. Of the 604 eligible IOL patients, 470 (81%) underwent intracranial imaging, ranging from 53% to 100%. Conclusions: In most cases, diagnostic imaging in IOL patients is frequently ordered. This study finds computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to be an important recommendation given to all patients with IOL. Although the overall rate of detecting tumor from diagnostic imaging is low, it is important to offer diagnostic imaging to this subset of patients to avoid missing tumors at an early stage.