Examination Results in Patients with Olfactory Disturbance of Unknown Origin

-Immunohistochemical Findings-

Abstract

Immunohistochemical examinations were performed on the olfactory mucosa of two patients with olfactory disturbance of unknown origin. One patient was a 58-year-old female who had gradually lost her sense of smell during the last five years. The other was a 56-year-old male who had lost his sense of smell eight months earlier.
In the first patient, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and glia-specific S-100 protein (S 100) immunoreactivity could not be found in the epithelium or lamina propria. Only cytokeratin (CK) immunoreactivity was seen in all cell layers throughout the epithelium. In the second patient, a number of NSE-immunoreactive cells were found in the epithelium. Intense staining of anti-S-100 antiserum was seen in the nerve bundles and Bowman's glands in the lamina propria. CK immunoreactivity was seen regularly in one layer of cells on the basement membrane. These results showed that the olfactory epithelium was completely degenerated and replaced with squamous epithelium in case 1. In case 2, the mucosa retained its normal morphology and function.
Immunohistochemical examinations are useful in determining the origin of hyposmia and anosmia when the etiology is in doubt.