Abstract
Morphological examination of the olfactory epithelium was performed by light and transmission electron microscope in a patient with olfactory disturbance caused by the common cold (viral infection). The patient was a 42-year-old male who visited our clinic about one month after losing his sense of smell. In spite of medical treatment over 3 months, the patient did not recover his olfaction.
Light microscopy revealed normal thickness of the olfactory epithelium and no evidence of atrophy. The number of supporting cells and basal cells were normal but olfactory receptor cells were decreased. Electron microscopy showed no specific morphological abnormality of supporting cells or basal cells, but in the residual olfactory receptor cells there was degeneration of olfactory vesicles, and olfactory cilia were absent. Regenerating cells which develop into olfactory receptor cells were found above the basal cell layer.
These findings indicate that olfactory disturbance caused by the common cold (viral infection) resulted in damage of the olfactory receptor cells.
