Reversible Anosmia After Pituitary Irradiation
Authors: Kim A. Carmichael, Anthony S. Jennings, Richard L. Doty
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Brief Reports1 April 1984Reversible Anosmia After Pituitary IrradiationKIM A. CARMICHAEL, M.D., ANTHONY S. JENNINGS, M.D., RICHARD L. DOTY, Ph.D.KIM A. CARMICHAEL, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, ANTHONY S. JENNINGS, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, RICHARD L. DOTY, Ph.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-100-4-532 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptExternal beam radiotherapy is commonly used in treating pituitary adenomas. Frequent transient side effects of radiotherapy include headache, nausea, alopecia, and soft-tissue reactions (1, 2). Less frequent but generally more permanent complications include optic nerve damage, fibrosarcoma, radionecrosis of brain tissue, and panhypopituitarism. We report the development of anosmia in a patient receiving irradiation for a pituitary adenoma that persisted for 21 months before resolution.In April 1980, a 60-year-old woman had progressive deterioration of her visual acuity. In September 1980, ophthalmalogic evaluation showed bitemporal hemianopsia, and a computed tomographic (CT) scan showed a large intrasellar and suprasellar mass compressing...References1. SHELINE G, WARA W, and SMITH V. Therapeutic irradiation and brain injury. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1980;6:1215-28. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. BAGLAN R and MARKS J. Soft-tissue reactions following irradiation of primary brain and pituitary tumors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1981;7:455-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. DOTY R. The Smell Identification Test Administration Manual. Philadelphia: Sensonics, Inc.; 1983:19. Google Scholar4. DOTY R, SHAMAN P, and DANN M. Development of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test: a standardized microencapsulated test of olfactory function. Physiol Behav. 1984. (In press). CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. DOTY R. A review of olfactory dysfunctions in man. Am J Otolaryngol. 1979;1:57-79. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. SCHIFFMAN S. Taste and smell in disease. N Engl J Med. 1983;308:1275-9, 1337-43. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. BOLDREY E and SHELINE G. Delayed transitory clinical manifestations after radiation treatment of intracranial tumors. Acta Radiol. 1967;5:5-10. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: KIM A. CARMICHAEL, M.D.; ANTHONY S. JENNINGS, M.D.; RICHARD L. DOTY, Ph.D.Affiliations: University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNeurological Complications of Radiation TherapyNeurological Complications of Chemotherapy and Radiation TherapyComplications neurologiques de la radiothérapieFisiología, exploración y trastornos de la olfacciónFisiologia, esplorazione e disturbi dell’olfattoPhysiologie, exploration et troubles de l'olfactionEffects of radiotherapy on olfactory functionNeurologic Sequelae of Radiotherapy on the Nervous SystemTaste and smell perception in the elderly: Effect of medications and diseasePrevalence and Assessment of Qualitative Olfactory Dysfunction in Different Age GroupsOlfaction in Aging and Medical DisordersDisorders in Taste and SmellDisorders of Smell and TasteNeurologic Complications of Radiation Therapy 1 April 1984Volume 100, Issue 4Page: 532-533KeywordsBrainComputed axial tomographyHeadachesNauseaOptic nervePanhypopituitarismPituitary tumorsVisual acuity ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 April 1984 PDF downloadLoading ...