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Juvenile angiofibroma
Nasal tumor; Angiofibroma - juvenile; Benign nasal tumor; Juvenile nasal angiofibroma; JNA
Juvenile angiofibroma is a noncancerous growth that causes bleeding in the nose and sinuses. It is most often seen in boys and young adult men.
Causes
Juvenile angiofibroma is not very common. It is most often found in adolescent boys. The tumor contains many blood vessels, spreads within the area in which it started (locally invasive ), and can cause bone damage.
Tumor
A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Invasive
An invasive disease is one that spreads to surrounding tissues. An invasive procedure is one in which the body is "invaded", or entered by a needle,...
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
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Difficulty breathing
through the nose
Difficulty breathing
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathingUncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Easy bruising
- Frequent or repeated nosebleeds
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Hearing loss
Hearing loss
Hearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.
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Nasal discharge
, usually bloody
Nasal discharge
A stuffy or congested nose occurs when the tissues lining the nose become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. The problem may a...
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Prolonged
bleeding
Bleeding
Bleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internally) Outside the body (externally)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blo...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Stuffy nose
Exams and Tests
The health care provider may see the angiofibroma when examining the upper throat.
Tests that may be done include:
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Arteriogram
to see the blood supply to the growth
Arteriogram
An arteriogram is an imaging test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. It can be used to view arteries in the heart, brain...
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CT scan of the head
CT scan of the head
A head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - MRI scan of the head
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X-ray
X-ray
X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray particles through the body. The im...
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Biopsy is generally not recommended due to the high risk of bleeding.
Treatment
You will need treatment if the angiofibroma is growing larger, blocking the airways, or causing repeated nosebleeds. In some cases, no treatment is needed.
Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor. The tumor may be hard to remove if it is not enclosed and has spread to other areas. Newer surgery techniques that place a camera up through the nose have made tumor removal surgery less invasive.
A procedure called embolization may be done to prevent the tumor from bleeding. The procedure may correct the nosebleeds by itself, but it is most often followed by surgery to remove the tumor.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Although not cancerous, angiofibromas may continue to grow. Some may disappear on their own.
It is common for the tumor to return after surgery.
Possible Complications
Complications may include:
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Anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Pressure on the brain (rare)
- Spread of the tumor to the nose, sinuses, and other structures
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if you often have nosebleeds.
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent this condition.
References
Haddad J, Keesecker S. Acquired disorders of the nose. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW III, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 377.
Nicolai P, Castelnuovo P. Benign tumors of the sinonasal tract. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund LJ, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 48.
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Nasal mucosa - illustration
The mucosa, or mucous membrane, is a type of tissue that lines the nasal cavity. Mucous membranes are usually moist tissues that are bathed by secretions such as in the nose.
Nasal mucosa
illustration
Review Date: 8/5/2015
Reviewed By: Sumana Jothi MD, specialist in laryngology, Clinical Instructor UCSF Otolaryngology, NCHCS VA, SFVA, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
