Eikichi Tokunaga

Incidence and Treatment of Dysgeusia in Patients with Glossodynia

In 96 patients who visited our hospital with glossodynia, we conducted gustatory tests, measured serum zinc and copper levels, examined lingual papillae using biomicroscopy, conducted psychological tests and investigated the effectiveness of treatments directed at the cause of dysgeusia. Gustatory test results showed that 43 (44.8%) of the patients had dysgeusia, which was mild in 62.8%, moderate in 30.2% and severe in 7.0%. By giving higher priority to treatment of dysgeusia than to glossodynia, pain disappeared or was relieved and gustatory sensation improved in 27 (62.8%) of these 43 patients. Overall, pain disappeared or was improved in 65 (67.7%) cases. When treating glossodynia, it is important to diagnose the cause of pain and to give higher priority to treating that cause. The clinical efficacy of treatment for glossodynia will be improved when the presence or absence of dysgeusia is diagnosed early in the course of treatment.

Dysgeusia and Glossodynia

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.

Is the Whole Mouth Method an Appropriate Index of Taste Disorders

Electrogustometry, the filter-paper disc test, and the whole mouth method are the major test methods we employ for determining the effects of treatment at our clinic for taste disorders. In this study, we examined whether the whole mouth method was as an appropriate index for assessing these therapeutic effects.