Craniofacial resection of advanced juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

OBJECTIVE To describe the results of a craniofacial approach to resection of stage IIIB juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, performed by an integrated skull base surgical team. DESIGN A retrospective case-series review was conducted with postoperative follow-up ranging from 28 to 63 months. SETTING Operations were performed at a tertiary medical center. PATIENTS A referred sample of 5 male patients, ranging in age from 10 to 23 years (mean, 15 years). INTERVENTIONS All patients underwent resection of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas with intracranial extension. The procedure involved an infratemporal fossa approach via zygomatic osteotomy and subtemporal craniectomy. Anterior exposure was gained through a standard facial translocation. Dissection of the cavernous carotid artery was required in 3 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. RESULTS The average operating time was 12 hours 47 minutes. Estimated blood loss ranged from 700 to 1750 mL (mean, 1120 mL), with 2 patients requiring intraoperative transfusion. Patients were hospitalized for a mean duration of 5.6 days. Long-term morbidity includes facial dysesthesia, nasal crusting, and malodorous nasal discharge. No patients sustained stroke, oculomotor dysfunction, vision loss, or auditory impairment. At most recent follow-up, which ranges from 28 to 63 months, tumor recurrence has been confirmed in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS A combined craniofacial approach is appropriate for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma that extends intracranially. Complete tumor removal with acceptable morbidity can be expected.