Surgical outcome of recurrent angiofibroma

Objective: to present our experience with 14 patients of recurrent angiofibroma treated surgically. design: a descriptive study setting: department of ent,head & neck surgery postgraduate medical institute,lady reading hospital peshawar. patients and methods: this study included 14 patients with recurrent angiofibroma. all patients were admitted. a detailed history followed by thorough clinical examination of head and neck region was done. the extent of growth of angiofibroma was studied radiologically by contrast enhanced ct scanning or mri. all patients were treated surgically and were followed up postoperatively for a period of 2 years. results: all patients were male and the average age at diagnosis was 15 years. nasal obstruction and recurrent epistaxis were the presenting complaints in all patients. other signs and symptoms included nasal/nasopharyngeal mass,decreased hearing,headache,cheek swelling and proptosis. the tumor and its extensions were well delineated by contrast enhanced ct and/ or mri. all patients underwent surgical resection of the tumour,in 6 patients by lateral rhinotomy,in other 6 by transmaxillary approach via weber- fergusson incision and in 2 via midfacial degloving approach. conclusion: in the vast majority of patients recurrent angiofibroma are completely resectable with little morbidity and should be treated surgically after recognition of the extent of tumour by preoperative imaging. complete surgical resection of the tumour is recommended in order to reduce the high rate of recurrence.