[Smell disorders as early diagnosis in the early stage of sinonasal polyposis].

Introduction: The increasing demand for attention to olfactory disorders, along with the persistent presence of sinonasal polyposis, has opened the need to treat these pathologies in very early stages.

Objectives: To demonstrate that incipient stages in sinonasal polyposis are detectable by olfactometry before radiological images, and that this detection is linked with a non-blocked area around the nasal meatus (where the olfactory cleft is located).

Methods: This study is based on data obtained from a sinonasal polyposis (degree 0 or 1) patient group (n=121) without allergies or asthma backgrounds. The patients underwent both fibroscopic and olfactometry explorations (first and fifth cranial nerve) and computed axial tomography (CT) assessment. The results were compared with the control group (n=120).

Results: Significant values (p<0.05) of affectation were found in decreasing olfactory levels (olfactory and trigeminal nerves) in patients with degree 0 or 1 polyposis.

Conclusion: Olfactory disorders linked to a non-blocked area around the nasal meatus (degree 1 or 2 polyposis), together with sinonasal CT scans showing beginnings of ethmoidal inflammation, should be interpreted as incipient sinonasal polyposis.