ABSTRACT
Olfactory dysfunction can generally be classified into (1) conductive disorders caused by interference with the access of odorants to the olfactory receptors, (2) peripheral sensorineural disbrders resulting from injury to the olfactory receptors (within the olfactory mucosa), and (3) central neural disorders of the olfactory bulb or tract or related parts of the central nervous system such as the prefrontal lobe, septal nuclei, amygdala, and temporal lobe. For medical imaging and the anatomical approach, we categorize olfactory dysfunction into two major groups: peripheral causes-sinonasal tract disorders-and central causes-intracranial disorders. It is important to relate olfactory deficits to the appropriate anatomical and pathological changes. Unfortunately, clinical olfactory testing, whether psychophysical or electrophysiological, is rarely capable of localizing the source (aside from determining whether it is on the right or left) or identifying the specific cause of decreased smell function.
