Radiation-induced changes in taste acuity in cancer patients. [. gamma. rays]

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(78)90190-6· OSTI ID:6630194

Mossman, K L; Henkin, R I

Changes in taste acuity were measured in 27 patients with various forms of cancer who received radiation to the head and neck region. In 9 of these patients (group I), measurements of taste acuity were made more than 1 year after completion of radiation therapy. In the other 18 patients (group II), taste measurements were made before, during, and approximately 1 month after radiation therapy. Taste acuity was measured for four taste qualities (salt, sweet, sour, and bitter) by a forced choice-three stimulus drop technique which measured detection and recognition thresholds and by a forced scaling technique which measured taste intensity responsiveness. In group II patients, impaired acuity, as indicated by elevated detection and recognition thresholds, was observed approximately 3 weeks after initiation of radiotherapy. The bitter and salt qualities showed the earliest and greatest impairment and the sweet quality the least. Taste intensity responsiveness also was impaired in group II patients. As for thresholds, scaling impairment was most severe for bitter and salt taste qualities. Scaling impairment occurred before changes in either detection or recognition thresholds. Detection and recognition thresholds determined in group I patients also showed salt and bitter qualities were affected more severely than either sweet or sour qualities. Zinc administration to group I patients in an uncontrolled study suggested that zinc therapy may be useful in ameliorating taste impairment in some patients. These results suggest that taste loss may be a factor in the anorexia and weight loss that is observed commonly in patients who have undergone radiation treatment. Correction of this abnormality may be useful in aiding the nutritional status of these patients.

• Research Organization: Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 6630194
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 4:7-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
POST-IRRADIATION THERAPY
ZINC
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SALIVARY GLANDS
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
EARLY RADIATION EFFECTS
TASTE BUDS
COBALT 60
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
GAMMA RADIATION
HEAD
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NECK
NEOPLASMS
PATIENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
COBALT ISOTOPES
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MEDICINE
METALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
SENSE ORGANS
THERAPY
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man