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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Craniofacial resection of advanced juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
Christina Bales1, Mark Kotapka, Laurie A Loevner
1University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, USA.
Objective:
To describe the results of a craniofacial approach to resection of stage IIIB juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, performed by an integrated skull base surgical team.
Design:
A retrospective case-series review was conducted with postoperative follow-up ranging from 28 to 63 months.
Setting:
Operations were performed at a tertiary medical center.
Patients:
A referred sample of 5 male patients, ranging in age from 10 to 23 years (mean, 15 years).
Interventions:
All patients underwent resection of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas with intracranial extension. The procedure involved an infratemporal fossa approach via zygomatic osteotomy and subtemporal craniectomy. Anterior exposure was gained through a standard facial translocation. Dissection of the cavernous carotid artery was required in 3 patients.
Main Outcome Measures:
Intraoperative and postoperative morbidity.
Results:
The average operating time was 12 hours 47 minutes. Estimated blood loss ranged from 700 to 1750 mL (mean, 1120 mL), with 2 patients requiring intraoperative transfusion. Patients were hospitalized for a mean duration of 5.6 days. Long-term morbidity includes facial dysesthesia, nasal crusting, and malodorous nasal discharge. No patients sustained stroke, oculomotor dysfunction, vision loss, or auditory impairment. At most recent follow-up, which ranges from 28 to 63 months, tumor recurrence has been confirmed in 1 patient.
Conclusions:
A combined craniofacial approach is appropriate for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma that extends intracranially. Complete tumor removal with acceptable morbidity can be expected.
