Microspheres embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in an adult

INTRODUCTION Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign though locally aggressive, highly vascular tumor primarily affecting adolescent males which has traditionally posed a significant intraoperative challenge during its resection due to the high risk of uncontrollable hemorrhage. Pre-operative angiographic embolization of the major feeding vessels to the tumor has become a valuable, even necessary, tool in the surgical treatment of these lesions.

PRESENTATION OF CASE Our patient was a 32-year-old man with a chief complaint of recurrent left-sided epistaxis for one year, brisk and continuous for ten days prior to presentation, subsequently found to have a 4 cm vascular skull base tumor causing mild expansion of the pterygopalatine fossa. The patient underwent pre-operative embolization utilizing 300-500 micrometer microspheres injected into the ipsilateral maxillary artery. The following day, the patient underwent definite Stereotactical surgical resection of his JNA tumor. Estimated blood loss during the operation was 50 mL, and the patient was discharged the same day.

DISCUSSION Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas pose a significant bleeding risk for the surgeon due to their highly vascular nature. Pre-operative embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas can reduce intraoperative blood loss while lessening the risk of massive hemorrhage, shortening operation times, increasing intra-operative visibility, and allowing for easier resection of lesions.

CONCLUSION Pre-operative embolization of JNA is a safe, effective method to prevent against the risk of massive, sometimes fatal, hemorrhage that occurs with these highly vascular tumors.