Clinical bitterness masking test for phantogeusia

It is difficult to determine the reason why a patient complains of a bitter taste when their mouth is empty. We examined a new diagnostic test using a bitterness masking substance. The bitterness masking substance,'Benecoat B MI-60' (hereafter BMI-60), is a masking substance specific to the taste cel ls' bitterness receptors. After patients gargled with BMI-60 solutions, the phantom sensation of bitterness was masked in some patients, but was not m asked in others. Bitter substances in saliva seemed to be masked by BMI-60, but bitterness did not seem to be masked when the locus of the phantom sen sation was within the peripheral nerve and/or the brain. The bitterness mas king lest is useful for diagnosis of the phantom sensation of bitter taste.