Olfactory Epithelium Histology on Age-Related Olfactory Recovery After Endoscopic Endonasal Anterior Skull Base Surgery

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

8:30 AM – 8:36 AM EDT

Location: MBCC, 230

Disclosure(s):

Sung-Woo Cho:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Tae-Bin Won, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Chae-Seo Rhee, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: This study explored the connection between age and postoperative olfactory recovery following endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (TSA), as well as to investigate how histological features of the olfactory epithelium interacts with age.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients who underwent endoscopic TSA performed. We assessed pre and postoperative olfactory function using the Cross Cultural Smell Identification Test (CCSIT) and an olfaction questionnaire, and examined relationship with demographic and tumor characteristics. In an additional patient cohort, we sampled the lower 1/3 of the superior turbinates during endoscopic TSA and subjected them to immunofluorescence staining for histological analysis of olfactory epithelium to determine their impact on age-related olfactory outcomes after endoscopic TSA.

Results: We analyzed a group of 46 patients, with a mean age of 54.5 (±14.7) and a male-to-female ratio of 26:20. Pituitary adenoma was the most frequently diagnosed tumor type, affecting 73.9% of the patients. Age exhibited a negative correlation with olfactory function at both 3-month (rho = -0.367, p = 0.022) and 6-month (rho = -0.389, p = 0.028) postoperative time points. Additionally, we assessed 21 patients histologically regarding the olfactory epithelium, and the number of OMP/PGP double-positive cells (mature olfactory sensory neurons), p63 positive cells (horizontal basal cells), and Mash 1 positive cells (globose basal cells) showed a negative association with age (rho = -0.56, p = 0.004; rho = -0.616, p = 0.001; rho = -0.676, p < 0.001, respectively). Among these patients, 9 underwent postoperative olfactory testing. The number of OMP/PGP double-positive cells, as well as Mash 1 positive cells, showed a trend towards association with olfactory recovery, but this association did not reach statistical significance (rho = -0.283, p = 0.46; rho = -0.305, p = 0.425, respectively).

Conclusions: Histological characteristics with a higher number of mature olfactory sensory neurons and basal cells are linked to more a favorable olfactory outcome in younger patients

Presenting Author(s)

SC

Sung-Woo Cho

Clinical assistant professor
Seoul National Universuty Bundang Hospital
Seongnam, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

JO

Jayoung Oh, MD

Seoul National Universuty Bundang Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
JP

Jin-A Park, MD

Borame Medical Center, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Tae-Bin Won, MD

Professor
Seoul National University Hospital
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Senior Author(s)

CR

Chae-Seo Rhee, MD

Professor
Seoul National University College of Medicine
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.