Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is the most common benign tumor of the head and neck. It is a vascular tumor that appears in the nasal cavity. Although it is not cancerous, it can expand locally—this condition usually affects adolescent boys.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include nasal obstruction and nosebleeds, which can be severe. If the tumor grows large enough, it can obstruct both sides of the nose, cause facial pain or headaches, and visual disturbance.

Diagnosis

Non-invasive diagnostic imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to diagnose JNA. When the imaging features are characteristic, a biopsy is not required for planning treatment.

Treatment

Surgical removal is the primary treatment for JNA. Given the vascular nature of the tumor, pre-operative embolization is usually performed to decrease intra-operative time and blood loss. Because JNA can recur, continued surveillance is required.