The role of radiation in the treatment of advanced juvenile angiofibroma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To demonstrate the efficacy of external beam radiation therapy as a primary treatment modality for the management of patients with advanced juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

The medical records of 130 patients with the diagnosis of JNA seen at UCLA Medical Center over a 41-year period (1960-2000) were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty cases of JNA have been seen at UCLA Medical Center from 1960 to 2000. One hundred two were treated with surgical resection, 1 refused therapy, and the remaining 27 received radiation (3000-5500 cGy) as their primary mode of treatment. Fifteen percent (4 of 27) of the irradiated patients developed recurrent tumor 2 to 5 years later. Long-term complications occurred in 4 patients (15%) and consisted of growth retardation, panhypopituitarism, temporal lobe necrosis, cataracts, and radiation keratopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

External beam radiation therapy represents an effective mode of treatment for patients with advanced JNA. Although the latency period may be long, we think the likelihood of potentially fatal complications developing at the radiation dosages we recommend is less than the risk of significant morbidity and mortality associated with surgical intervention in these cases.