Long-term results of radiation therapy for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze 15 patients treated with radiation therapy for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) between June 1975 and March 1996.


METHODS
All patients had a 2.5-year minimum follow-up. All patients had advanced disease (Chandler stage III or stage IV); two thirds of the patients had intracranial extension.


RESULTS
Local control after radiotherapy was obtained in 13 of 15 patients (85%). Two patients had local recurrences, and both were salvaged with surgery for an ultimate local control rate of 100%. Late complications included cataracts in 3 patients, delayed transient central nervous system (CNS) syndrome in 1 patient, and a basal cell carcinoma of the skin in 1 patient. Of 15 patients, 13 (85%) had a complete response (CR) on physical examination following radiation therapy. The median time to CR was 13 months (range, 1 to 39 months). Of 6 patients with residual disease in more than 24 months, 2 (33%) had a recurrence, whereas no patient achieving CR in less than 24 months experienced a recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for advanced JNA. Tumor regression usually occurs slowly over several months. JNAs that are slow to regress (greater than 2 years) may have an increased risk of recurrence.
Reddy
K A
KA
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Mendenhall
W M
WM
Amdur
R J
RJ
Stringer
S P
SP
Cassisi
N J
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed