Assessment of factors influencing the olfactory bulb volume in patients with post-viral olfactory dysfunction

Purpose To investigate the factors influencing the volume of the olfactory bulb (OB) in patients with post-viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD). Methods We collected 92 olfactory bulb volumes from patients with PVOD who underwent a sinus computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the head and collected clinical information including gender, age, disease course, minimal cross-sectional area, nasal airway resistance, and olfactory function. OB volume was measured in MRI and the scans were evaluated according to the Lund-Mackay (LM) scoring system. Results Male patients with PVOD had a larger OB volume (beta = 0.284, P < 0.05). OB volume was smaller in patients with a longer course of olfactory dysfunction (beta = - 0.254, P < 0.05). According to the LM scoring system, patients with a higher anterior ethmoidal sinus score had smaller OB volume (beta = - 0.476, P < 0.05). Conclusions The study revealed that gender, disease course, and the score of anterior ethmoidal sinusitis can affect the OB volume in patients with PVOD.

Automated summary

This study investigates the factors influencing the volume of the olfactory bulb in patients with post-viral olfactory dysfunction. The study found that male patients had larger olfactory bulb volume, longer duration of olfactory dysfunction resulted in smaller olfactory bulb volume, and higher score of anterior ethmoidal sinusitis led to smaller olfactory bulb volume.