Abstract
The sense of taste was evaluated in 20 children with congenital microtia. No laterality of the sense of taste was noted in any of the three areas examined in 16 patients without facial nerve palsy. In four patients with facial nerve palsy, no lateral difference in the sense of taste was noted in the areas supplied by the glossopharyngeal and major pyramidal nerves. However, the sense of taste was more diminished in the chorda tympani area on the side of the palsy in three of the four patients.
A review of the literature and of the authors' patients suggests that the chorda tympani is present in some form even in children with microtia. In children with facial nerve palsy, however, hypoplasia or aplasia of the chorda tympani may occur.
