Examination of the taste disorder associated with gynecological cancer chemotherapy

• Gustatory tests were performed to clarify taste disorders during chemotherapy.
• Tests were trace element, tongue culture, electrogustometry, and filter paper disc.
• Abnormal test results were seen in half of the patients after cancer chemotherapy.

ObjectiveTaste disturbance is known to occur as one of the adverse events associated with chemotherapy for gynecological cancer, but few studies have attempted to assess it in practical terms. Therefore, a range of taste tests was performed in gynecological cancer patients.MethodsThe patients were 23 women with gynecological cancer being treated with anticancer agents. Subjective symptoms of altered taste were classified, and objective findings were obtained with the following four gustatory tests: serum trace element (zinc, copper, iron) levels, tongue cultures, electrogustometry, and the filter paper disc tests.ResultsOf the 23 subjects, 11 perceived taste disturbances. The serum zinc level was consistently below the lower limit of normal. On tongue cultures, indigenous bacteria were seen in all patients during the entire treatment period. Electrogustometry revealed a tendency for the development of hypogeusia in the chorda tympani nerve field. Conversely, hypergeusia tended to develop gradually in the greater petrosal nerve field. The filter paper disc test revealed a tendency for the development of hypergeusia for sweetness, saltiness, and sourness in the chorda tympani nerve field. Hypogeusia for bitterness tended to develop with increasing number of chemotherapy cycles. The glossopharyngeal nerve field exhibited the same tendencies as observed in the chorda tympani nerve field. In the greater petrosal nerve field, there was a tendency for the development of hypergeusia for sweetness, sourness, and bitterness.ConclusionsAbnormal test results were seen in half of patients after cancer chemotherapy.