[Surgical approaches for different stages of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the optical surgical approaches for the resection of early and advanced stage of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas.


METHODS
Twenty two male patients aged 9 - 30 years (median 16 years) hospitalized in Xiangya Hospital from June 2003 to July 2006 with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were recruited. Five operative approaches were selected according classification of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma described by Fisch. Six cases with stage I nasopharyngeal angiofibroma underwent endoscopic transnasal surgery. Six cases with stage II and 2 cases with stage III underwent endoscopic endonasal middle meatal transmaxillary-antrum approach. Three cases with stage III and 2 cases with stage IV underwent endoscopic endonasal middle and inferior meatal approach with extended transmaxillary-antrum resection. One case with stage IV underwent microscopic preauricula infratemporal fossa approaches combined with endoscopic endonasal middle and inferior meatal transantral approach. Two cases with stage IV underwent nasomaxillary osteotomy approach.


RESULTS
After surgery, CT scan or MR image showed that total removal of the tumor was achieved in 21 patients. One patient who received subtotal resection were performed by second endoscopic surgery and obtained total resection. No postoperative complications have been encountered in all treated patients. Nine months to 3 years follow up indicated that no cases recurred after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate surgical approach should be selected according to the clinical classification and whether the tumor has extended into whole nasal cavity, lateral fossa infratemporalis, intracranial or not. Such approaches might better facilitate the complete removal of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas and reduce the surgery-related injury.
Jiang
Wei-hong
WH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. jiangwh68@126.com
Zhao
Su-ping
SP
Xie
Zhi-hai
ZH
Zhang
Hua
H
Xiao
Jian-yun
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D055815:Young Adult