a brain tumour in the temporal lobe could lead to sensations of strange smells (as well as other symptoms, such as, difficulty with hearing, speaking and memory loss)
In most cases, phantosmia isn't a cause for concern and will go away in time. However, in rare instances, it could indicate a more serious health condition, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke or a brain tumor.
Olfactory neuroblastoma, or esthesioneuroblastoma, is a tumor that grows in the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity has nerves and other tissue that are responsible for the sense of smell. This kind of tumor begins in the nasal cavity and can grow into the nearby eyes and brain.
When a cancer starts specifically in the nerves that affect your sense of smell, it is known as olfactory neuroblastoma.
Several conditions may cause a bad smell in the nose, including sinusitis, tooth/ mouth infections, dry mouth, some medications, some foods/drinks, and olfactory damage.
Common symptoms of brain tumours include headaches, feeling or being sick and seizures (fits).
Some people with brain tumors experience general symptoms like headaches, seizures, and fatigue. Other symptoms can be more specific to the location of the tumor in the brain.
Symptoms depend on where the tumour is in the brain and how slowly or quickly it grows. They may develop suddenly, or slowly over months or even years. As a tumour grows, it can press on or grow into nearby areas of the brain.
Phantosmia is not usually a cause for concern, and it often clears up by itself. It can also be a symptom of a more serious condition, so people experiencing phantom smells should see their doctor to check for underlying conditions or complications. The best treatment will depend on the cause of phantosmia.
Olfactory hallucinations, or phantosmias, are well known to occur in temporal lobe epilepsy and schizo- phrenia, and have also been documented in patients with cerebral aneurysms (3,4), intracranial mass lesions (5), Parkinson's disease (6), and head trauma (7), and in patients receiving caffeine infusions (8).
Smelling things that aren't there is called phantosmia. It can be unpleasant and affect how things taste. But it isn't usually serious and may go away by itself in a few weeks or months. See your GP if the strange smell doesn't go away in a few weeks.
Symptoms of a brain tumour
seizures (fits) persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness. mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality. progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
We sometimes find brain tumors when otherwise healthy people suddenly have a seizure, unusual weakness or speech problems. If you have these symptoms, go to an emergency room.
Most meningiomas do not spread.
This means that the tumor cells are not likely to spread to other parts of the body. That said, meningiomas can quietly grow for years without causing any problems — and they can get surprisingly large.
The gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm of leg, or difficulty with balance can occur. Weakness of facial muscles or difficulty controlling facial expressions, problems speaking or swallowing may also result. Numbness and loss of feeling in a part of the body or face is also something to keep an eye on.
In fact, they can even spot brain tumours before there are any noticeable symptoms, making routine eye tests a good choice if possible. During an eye test, an optician can identify a brain tumour by either noticing a swelling of the optic disc or seeing pressure on the optic nerve.
Brain tumours can make you feel sick, and feeling nauseous is one of the common symptoms, but it's rare for nausea to be the only symptom of a brain tumour.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a characteristic odor associated with basal cell carcinoma, a common and easily cured cancer. They are continuing the research to identify a characteristic odor for the deadlier melanoma skin cancer.
Effective techniques for early diagnosis are urgently needed, as the disease often has no early signs or symptoms. "Cancer tumors result in a change in body-related odors that can be detected both by trained animal sensors and by sophisticated chemical techniques," said Monell biologist Gary K.
If a cervical tumor does not receive enough oxygen, some cancerous cells may die off and infect the tumor. The infection can produce a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, which may contain pieces of tissue or necrotic material. Some people liken the smell of an ulcerating cervical tumor to that of rotting meat.