Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: rare presentations

Nasopharyngeal angiofibromas are benign tumors of the nasopharynx that occur in adolescent boys. The extensive extensions and various clinical presentations of the tumor have been well documented in the literature. Very rarely, these tumors may extend outside the nasal cavity as a large polypoid mass. Two interesting cases of angiofibroma with atypical presentations, showing extensive spread in multiple directions, are reported here. In one case, the angiofibroma exited the right nostril as a large polypoidal mass and also presented as an intraoral tumor in the right upper gingivo-alveolar region. In the other case, in addition to polypoidal presentation through the anterior nares, the tumor produced severe respiratory obstruction resulting from extensive bulging of the soft palate.