Combined endoscopic and transoral resection of a high-staged juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: A pictorial essay.

Abstract

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) are highly vascular and benign tumors that can expand into the skull base. Delay of treatment can result in intracranial invasion, requiring extensive open approaches such as a facial translocation, maxillary swing, or an orbitozygomatic craniotomy. We describe a single-stage, combined endoscopic and transoral approach on a 14-year-old male with extensive high-stage dumbbell-shaped JNA involving the infratemporal fossa, orbit, buccal space, and intracranial extension into Meckel's cave. Successful resection of the tumor and good postoperative outcome was achieved. A transoral approach allowed for greater access to the infratemporal fossa, where endonasal resection was not possible, allowing for improved visualization, greater traction, and dissection. In select highly staged JNAs with significant lateral extension and intracranial involvement, successful and complete resection may be accomplished with this combined approach. Utilization of this approach avoids the morbidity of more invasive open approaches.