[Surgical treatment of extensive craniofacial juvenile angiofibromas]

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a rare benign tumor occurring almost exclusively in adolescent and young adult males. The tumor is characterized by slow progression, aggressive growth, high vascularization and increased rate of persistence and recurrence. From 2000 till 2008 29 consecutive male patients with JNA Fisch grade III and IV (intracranial extradural or intradural extension) were operated in Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute (Moscow, Russia). Most patients received different kinds of treatment before admission to the Institute. All patients underwent surgical resection using predominantly orbitozygomatic approach. Preoperative endovascular embolization was applied. Total removal was achieved in 86% of cases. Postoperative complications included osteomyelitis of the bone flap (4 cases), nasal CSF leak (1 case) etc. Recurrences were observed in 3 patients, all of them underwent repeated surgeries. 4 cases are presented (3 patients with Fisch grade IV tumor and 1 with grade III). Surgical treatment is the basic tactics in management of extensive JNAs. The authors recommend to use orbitozygomatic approach and endoscopic assistance.