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Patients with single sided vestibular schwannoma may report about a taste dysfunction apart from the well known cardinal symptoms. Very few data are published so far on that topic. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of microsurgery for vestibular schwannomas on taste perception prospectively using a well validated taste test. 25 patients could be included in the study. No ageusia was claimed by the patients. In average a decrease of the taste score postoperatively could be detected on the tumor as well as on the non treated side. The differences were not statistically significant. But a subgroup of ¼ of the subjects revealed a new onset of side difference in the taste score that was not present before surgery. In all those cases the treated side showed a clinically significant reduced taste score of 6,2 in average. Within this subgroup the temporal access was overpresented in contrast to the whole group. This may indicate an influence of the choosen approach and that for the position of the tumor to the change of the taste score. The observations should be verified on a greater collective., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are rare tumors that can cause different symptoms due to their anatomical relationship to the cranial nerves in the inner auditory canal. So far little data is known to the effect of VS on the somatosensory function of the intermediate nerve. This study aimed to investigate the taste function of patients suffering from single sided VS. Therefore the well validated psychophysical test "Taste Strips" has been used. 26 patients who consulted our outpatient clinic at a university hospital could be included in the study. All patients were asked carefully for their medical history. A full ENT examination was done. Each side of the anterior two thirds of the tongue was tested separately using the Taste Strips. The average age was 52 years with both gender equally represented. Throughout all age groups the taste score was lower on the tumor vs. the non affected side. Testing for significance just failed the level of 0.05. No correlation between tumor size and location of the tumor with the taste score could be detected. Only 2 patients complained of taste dysfunction. They had a taste score below the 10. percentile of their age group on tumor while normal scores on the non affected side. To sum up a decreased taste score on the tumor side vs. the non affected side could be confirmed. Only 8% of the patients complained of taste disturbance as a symptom. That supports the observation that taste is a whole mouth experience and dysfunction can be compensated., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)