1995 Volume 1995 Issue Supplement78 Pages 63-69
Gustatory test results from patients whose chief complaint is glossodynia often show dysgeusia, although these patients may not be aware of it. In this study, we conducted gustatory tests on patents who visited our hospital with glossodynia, and examined (1) the rate of dysgeusia complications in these patients as well as (2) the effectiveness of treatment for glossodynia.
Among patients who visited the Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital between January 1990 and December 1993 and whose chief complaint was glossodynia, we selected 96 patients (15 males and 81 females, mean age: 57.7 years) and conducted gustatory and psychological tests, measured serum zinc and copper levels, and observed lingual papilla using biomicroscopy. Results showed the presence of dysgeuisa in 43 patients (44.8%). Severity was mild in 62.8% of the 43. By giving higher priority to treatment of dysgeusia than to glossodynia, pain disappeared or was relieved, along with improvement in gustatory sensation in 27 (62.8%) of the 43 patients who previously complained of both glossodynia and dysgeusia. Overall, including patients not complaining of dysgeusia, pain in 65 of 96 patients (67.7%) disappeared or was improved.
When treating glossodynia, it is important to accurately diagnose the main cause of pain and give higher priority to treating for the cause. Clinical efficacy of treatment for glossodynia will be improved when the presence or absence of dysgeusia is diagnosed early in the course of treatment.
