Peripheral smell regions in patients with central vertigo: An MRI evaluation

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVES. We investigated peripheral smell regions in patients with central vertigo by cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS. In this study, 137 adult patients were included by selecting cranial MRI images from the hospital’s PACS system, covering both recent and past records. The first group included 68 adult patients suffering from central vertigo, and the control group (Group 2) 69 healthy individuals, who had no central vertigo. Measurements of olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory sulcus (OS) depth were taken from all groups. RESULTS. The study found that the OB volume of the group with central vertigo was significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the OS depth between the two groups (p>0.05). In both groups, there were no significant variations in OB volume between the right and left sides (p>0.05). Additionally, both the central vertigo group and the control group showed that the left OS depth was lower than the right side (p<0.05). Positive correlation was seen between OB volume and OS depth on both left and right sides as well as bilateral OB volume and OS depth in the central vertigo group. However, there were no significant correlations between OB volume, OS depth and age and gender in the central vertigo group. CONCLUSION. We concluded that OB volume got lower in patients with central vertigo. However, there were no side differences between OB volumes. As central vertigo secondary to cerebral ishchemia causes olfactory disorders, measures should be taken to prevent central vascular problems. From another perspective, olfactory problems may be one of the initial signs of central vascular problems and central vertigo.