Abstract
his review summarizes dysfunction of olfaction in patients with olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM). Clinical examination, including pre-operative and post-operative assessment of olfaction, isindispensable for the evaluation of the surgical outcome in patients with OGM.
Review of a recent series of OGM documents showed a lack of the olfaction assessment in most of the studies. Psychophysical tests determining olfactory detection, discrimination and identifi cation (e. g.
University of Pennsylvania Smell Identifi cation Test [UPSIT], The Single Staircase Odor Detection Threshold Test, Siffi n' Sticks Test) should be used to reveal olfactory dysfunction. Specialized examination techniques such as electro-olfactogram, olfactory evoked potentials and functional magnetic resonance imaging are being used in research.
Standard treatment of OGM is a surgical resection. Controversy exists among the authors regarding the selection of a convenient surgical approach.
Commonly, the uni-frontal and pterional approaches are being performed. Endoscopic resection, olfactory groove meningiomas, represents an alternative approach yet its indications are still limited.
Postoperative olfaction preservation remains a diffi cult task even today.