ABSTRACT
Juvenile angiofibroma (JA) is a unique tumour presenting almost exclusively in adolescent males. The tumour usually arises from the lateral wall of the posterior nasal cavity close to the sphenopalatine foramen and the pterygoid base. It is important to consider that JAs spread along natural foramina and fissures. JAs are benign fibrovascular tumours with characteristic irregularly-shaped vessels, which may be lined by endothelial cells only or show an incomplete vascular wall architecture. It has been proposed that the tumour origin is based on an incomplete regression of the first branchial arch artery. Endoscopic resection of JAs follows tumour management principles by keeping the specific characteristics of this unique tumour in mind. Endoscopic resection of JAs using the nostrils as natural openings is an ideal option to treat the majority of tumours successfully. In general, the endoscopic resection can be used to remove JAs limited to the nasal cavity, the nasopharynx, the sphenoid sinus and the pterygopalatine fossa.
