Gustatory Impairment in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Irradiation

To determine whether radiation alters taste function and structure.Prospective, longitudinal study.Testing prior to starting radiation, and 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months after completing radiation.Relative to controls, patients had lower taste identification test scores for bitter, salty, and sour tastes. Sour taste also showed a significant group-by-time interaction (P = .03). Taste pores were decreased in the irradiated group, with a significant group-by-time interaction (P = .03).Head and neck cancer patients have decreased taste function, and radiation adversely affected sour taste and taste pores.