Surgical management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma using lateral rhinotomy: study of 80 cases

A series of 80 patients with histopathologically confirmed juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were treated surgically over a period of ten years (1995-2004). The lateral rhinotomy approach was used to expose the tumor and its extensions. Lateral rhinotomy with its extensions provides wide exposure of and access to the nose, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, pterygopalatine fossa, infratemporal fossa and temporal fossa. Most intracranial, extradural extensions can also be approached. There were no major operative or post-operative complications. Longterm follow up from one to ten years showed only 8 recurrences. The added advantage of this approach is that it can be combined with all the other anterior and lateral skull base approaches. The cosmetic outcome is satisfactory if nasal aesthetic subunits are taken into considerations while making the incision. The lateral rhinotomy approach is the most direct route to the body of the tumor and can be used to approach all the possible extensions of the tumor.