The effects of adenoidectomy on the smell perception of children.

Background: In this study, we employed a novel children's olfactory test in order to more accurately assess the relationship between nasopharyngeal obstruction and odor identification ability. We quantified the impact of adenoidectomy on olfactory function, established whether the influences of the operation were related to the preoperative amount of nasopharyngeal obstruction, and determined whether sex influenced the olfactory measures.

Methods: Fifty-three boys and 23 girls were administered a standardized children's olfactory test, the Pediatric Smell Wheel™, before and 45 days after adenoidectomy.