Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: imaging characteristics and pre-operative embolization

ABSTRACT

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma [JNA] is a benign highly vascular tumor. It almost exclusively affects male adolescents and young adults. Nasal blockage and recurrent epistaxis are the classic symptoms. Cross-sectional imaging is vital for accurate diagnosis and operative planning. Pre-operative embolization is frequently performed to decrease blood loss and has especially facilitated endoscopic resection. A sixteen-year-old male presented with one-month complaint of unilateral nasal blockage and frequent epistaxis. Angiofibroma was diagnosed by CT and MRI. Angiography followed by embolization was performed 24 hours prior to endoscopic surgical resection. The reported blood loss was less than 50 ml. No complications were encountered