후각 장애를 야기한 비강 이물

Various man-made and naturally occuring chemicals and substances can modify the chemosensory systems of man. Cement found widely in industry is included in the list of chemicals known to cause olfactory impairment. Author experienced a case of a 35-year-old man who had olfactory impairment because of cement impaction in the whole nasal cavity by careless accident. Foreign bodies especially in olfactory fissure and superior meatus were not easily removed because of narrow visual field, easy bleeding from mucosa and mixed state with cement powder and pieces. Though several removal procedures under nasal endoscope were done, the foreign bodies were not totally removed. The patient continued to complain of olfactory disturbance. Therefore, author reports this case with review of the related literatures. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2001;12:95-98)