Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in a static population: the implications of misdiagnosis

We present a 20-year review of juvenile angiofibroma in the relatively static population of Northern Ireland. Seventeen cases were identified and new slides were prepared from the stored paraffin blocks of all their original biopsy material, and re-examined. Five females, a 36-year-old and an 18-year-old male had their diagnoses revised. We suggest clinical criteria, which in conjunction with radiological investigations, should be strictly applied in all cases. Such application would, in retrospect, have identified those cases excluded by pathological re-examination, thus avoiding unnecessary surgery and radiotherapy. Atypical cases which do not satisfy the clinical criteria may be subjected to repeat biopsy but routine initial biopsy is not recommended.