OBJECTIVETo explore the optical surgical approaches for the resection of early and advanced stage of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas.

METHODSTwenty 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.

RESULTSAfter 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.

CONCLUSIONSAppropriate 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.