Observation on the changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients′ olfactory before and after radiotherapy

Objective:Detecting nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) patients′olfactory before and after radiotherapy for investigating the infection of radiotherapy on these patients′olfactory.Method:100 NPC patients′olfactory were detected before the start of radiotherapy and after the termination of therapy in 3,6,12,24 and 36 months.Result:Patients′smell acuity decreased sharply 3 months after therapy,but varying degrees of recovery were noted in 6 and 12 months. However their smell acuity became worse in the following time.Conclusion:NPC patients′smell acuity can be profoundly affected by radiotherapy.And after radiotherapy, their smell acuity will decrease wave likely and cannot fully recover.