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01-11-2018 | Original Article

Awareness of dysgeusia and gustatory tests in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer

Authors: Sayaka Kuba, Rie Fujiyama, Kosho Yamanouchi, Michi Morita, Chika Sakimura, Toshiko Hatachi, Megumi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Yano, Mitsuhisa Takatsuki, Naomi Hayashida, Takeshi Nagayasu, Susumu Eguchi

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 11/2018

Abstract

Purpose

We analyzed the prevalence of gustatory test abnormalities in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods

We enrolled 43 BC patients undergoing chemotherapy and 38 BC patients who had never undergone chemotherapy (control group). Two gustatory tests were conducted: an instillation method examining the threshold for four basic taste stimuli and an electrogustometry method measuring the threshold for perception with electric stimulation at the front two-thirds of the tongue (cranial nerve VII) and at the back third of the tongue (cranial nerve IX). The results of the two gustatory tests and clinicopathological factors were compared between the chemotherapy and control groups and between patients with and without awareness of dysgeusia in the chemotherapy group.

Results

In the chemotherapy group, 19 (44%) patients were aware of dysgeusia and 8 (19%) had hypogeusia using the instillation method. Although more patients had parageusia in the chemotherapy than control group, no significant differences in the results of the two gustatory tests were observed. Patients with dysgeusia awareness had a higher threshold at cranial nerve IX using the electrogustometry method than those without dysgeusia awareness; no significant differences in hypogeusia were observed using the instillation method. In fact, 74% (14/19) of patients with dysgeusia awareness could identify the four tastes accurately using the instillation method. Similar results were observed for the instillation and electrogustometry methods at cranial nerve VII.

Conclusions

While approximately half of the chemotherapy patients were aware of dysgeusia, 81% (35/43) of them could accurately identify the four basic tastes using the instillation method.

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Title: Awareness of dysgeusia and gustatory tests in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Sayaka Kuba
Rie Fujiyama
Kosho Yamanouchi
Michi Morita
Chika Sakimura
Toshiko Hatachi
Megumi Matsumoto
Hiroshi Yano
Mitsuhisa Takatsuki
Naomi Hayashida
Takeshi Nagayasu
Susumu Eguchi
Publication date: 01-11-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 11/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4256-4

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