Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma symptoms & treatment

A nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a rare, noncancerous tumor made up of blood vessels that stem from the carotid artery and grow at the back of the nose near the opening of the throat. This area is also called the sphenopalatine foramen. It’s a group of bones in the nasal cavity that is considered the most common place where nasopharyngeal angiofibromas grow.

The condition also may be called an angiofibroma of the nasopharynx or an angiofibroma of the nose. Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is found almost exclusively in adolescent males, but scientists are not sure why.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Because it’s most common in adolescent males, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is often also called juvenile nasopharyngeal (JNA) angiofibroma or a JNA tumor. These tumors grow quickly during puberty, and then begin to slow down or stop growing after adolescence. This is the reason nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is also called juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

Symptoms of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

People with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma usually have an obstruction in their nasal cavity and frequent nosebleeds. Nasopharyngeal angiofibromas also can cause nasal discharge and sinusitis.

More extensive nasopharyngeal angiofibromas may grow into the sinuses or even into the brain. In these cases, symptoms may include headaches or changes in vision.

Diagnosis of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

An otolaryngologist, also called an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor, typically diagnoses a mass inside the nose using nasal endoscopy. They also may order a CT or MRI scan to assess the extent of the growth. Biopsies of these tumors often cause significant bleeding because they’re made up mainly of blood vessels. For this reason, surgical removal of the nasopharyngeal angiofibroma without an initial biopsy is often suggested.

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