2019 Volume 58 Issue 2 Pages 159-166
Introduction: Using an olfactory term table makes it easier to determine and name an odor when using T&T olfactometer. This method may have the advantage that it improves the recognition threshold of the odor. This study reports the results of a comparison between using and not using an olfactory term table and T&T olfactometer.
Materials and methods: Sixty patients who visited the Ikeda Municipal Hospital between April 2016 and May 2017 received checkups with T&T olfactometer and also answered a self-administered odor questionnaire (SAOQ). The patients were categorized into an olfactory term table usage group and a non-usage group, according to the time of examination. The results of recognition threshold, detection threshold, and the difference between detection and recognition thresholds with T&T olfactometer, as well an alinamin test and self-administered odor questionnaire were retrospectively compared.
Results: The olfactory term table usage and non-usage groups consisted of 37 and 23 patients, recpectively. The recognition threshold was significantly lower in the usage group than that in non-usage group (p = 0.003). The difference between detection and recognition thresholds was significantly lower in the usage group than that in non-usage group (p = 0.048). The detection threshold and SAOQ score were not significantly different between the groups. Therefore, we assumed that although olfactory function was similar, the recognition threshold was improved after using an olfactory term table over that when not using an olfactory term table.
Conclusion: We found that an olfactory term table influenced the recognition threshold in T&T olfactometer. It is necessary to determine whether to use an olfactory term table when using T&T olfactometer.
