Smell and taste function in childhood cancer patients: a feasibility study

Mirjam Van Den Brink,Britt Van Belkom,Irene Ijpma,Marta Fiocco,Remco C Havermans,Wim J E Tissing

doi:10.1007/s00520-020-05650-3

Abstract

PurposeChemotherapy can affect smell and taste function. This has never been investigated in childhood cancer patients during chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to determine whether psychophysical smell and taste tests are suitable for children with cancer. Taste and smell function, fungiform papillae density, and eating behavior were measured before (T1) and after (T2) a cycle of chemotherapy and compared with healthy controls.MethodsThirty-one childhood cancer patients treated for a hematological, solid, or brain malignancy (median age 12 years, 16 girls), and 24 healthy controls (median age: 11 years, 10 girls) participated. Smell function was measured using Sniffin’ Sticks, including a threshold, discrimination, and identification test. Taste Strips were used to determine recognition thresholds for sweet, sour, salty, and bitter taste. Papillae density was investigated by counting the fungiform papillae of the anterior tongue. Eating behavior was assessed using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS).ResultsSmell and taste function could be investigated in more than 90% of the patients, while fungiform papillae density could be determined in 61% of the patients. A significant difference in smell threshold was found between patients and controls (p = 0.001), showing lower thresholds in patients. In patients, sweet taste (p < 0.001), bitter taste (p = 0.028), and total taste function (p = 0.004) were significantly different after a cycle of chemotherapy, with higher scores at T2.ConclusionThe assessment of smell, taste, and fungiform papillae density is feasible in children with cancer. Results of the current study suggest that smell and taste sensitivity increased in children with cancer.

Highlights

Groningen, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsChildhood cancer survival rates have markedly improved in recent decades [1]
The present study has shown that assessing smell, taste, and fungiform papillae density is feasible in children with cancer, as more than 60% of the patients were able to complete the tests
We showed that taste function increased in childhood cancer patients during chemotherapy, especially for sweet and bitter taste

Summary

Introduction

Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsChildhood cancer survival rates have markedly improved in recent decades [1]. As a result, almost all such children suffer from bothersome or severe treatment-related side effects [2]. Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are well-known side effects among childhood cancer patients, interfering with food intake [3]. Taste changes have been found to be the third most common bothersome symptom (prevalence 60.3%) [2]. These changes are an often overlooked side effect contributing to inadequate food intake, which in turn affects nutritional status [4]. Poor nutritional status in children with cancer is associated with increased infections, poor survival, and impaired health-related quality of life [5, 6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion