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Sacrifice of the chorda tympani nerve during middle-ear surgery can lead to resolution of dysgeusia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2022

K L Lau Open the ORCID record for K L Lau [Opens in a new window] ,
H Tustin  and
F Stafford
K L Lau*
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK
H Tustin
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK
F Stafford
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Kin Lun Lau, Head and Neck Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road, SunderlandSR4 7TP, UK E-mail: kennylau@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Background

Cholesteatoma often presents with persistent otorrhoea, conductive hearing loss or vestibular dysfunction. Rarely, cholesteatoma can cause dysgeusia if the lesion invades into the chorda tympani nerve. This paper presents an individual with cholesteatoma whose dysgeusia resolved following a mastoidectomy in which the chorda tympani was sacrificed. The current literature was reviewed for explanations behind this phenomenon.

Case report

A previously fit 57-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of persistent otorrhoea and the complaint of a metallic taste in the mouth, and was diagnosed with cholesteatoma. The patient underwent radical mastoidectomy and the chorda tympani nerve was sacrificed. On post-operative review, he reported complete resolution of dysgeusia.

Conclusion

The sense of taste is mediated by a complex neural network. It is possible that once the diseased chorda tympani is transected, compensation arises from other parts of the network. Sectioning of the chorda tympani could lead to a beneficial outcome in selected patients.

Keywords

CholesteatomaMastoidectomyMiddle EarChorda Tympani NerveDysgeusia
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 4 , April 2022 , pp. 373 - 374
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Dr K L Lau takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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