Effect of embolisation on endoscopic resection of angiofibroma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of embolisation on endoscopic resection of angiofibroma.


METHODS
A partially blinded trial was undertaken. Twenty-three patients with angiofibroma (nine embolised and 14 not embolised) underwent endoscopic resection between January 2007 and August 2008 in two tertiary referral centres. Demographic data were collected, the pre-operative tumour extent was assessed by computed tomography, and tumours were staged according to their computed tomography appearance (Radkowski scale). In addition, we evaluated the duration of surgery, amount of haemorrhage, blood pressure during surgery, duration of hospitalisation, complications of surgery and embolisation, cost of treatment, and number of post-operative recurrences, as well as the angiographic characteristics in the embolisation group.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the general characteristics of both groups. At the end of the study period, we could find no significant difference between the two groups regarding haemorrhage, number of recurrences or complications. The only significant difference was cost of treatment, which was significantly higher in the embolisation group.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic resection is a feasible and safe method for angiofibroma surgery. The current evidence does not support obligatory embolisation in every case of endoscopic angiofibroma resection.
Mohammadi
M
M
ENT Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Saedi
B
B
Basam
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult