Amelioration of anosmia after removal of an olfactory groove meningioma via pterional approach

Abstract

Anosmia is one of the early symptoms of olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM) and the postoperative recovery of anosmia is accepted to be unexpected. A 42-year-old female patient presented with bilateral anosmia, and visual field field defects. Radiological examination revealed a large OGM with significant peritumoral edema. The tumor was totally resected through the pterional approach, with the meticulous preservation of the left olfactory nerve. Visual field disturbances improved in the early postoperative period. Furthermore, olfaction recovered in the left nostril at the 6-month follow-up. Despite the common belief that anosmia persists after OGM surgery, with preservation of ofactory nerves, olfaction can be recovered in rare cases.