‘Juvenile’ nasal angiofibroma presenting in adulthood

Abstract

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) are rare hyper vascular, benign tumours typically demonstrating a locally aggressive growth pattern. The cardinal presenting symptoms are unilateral nasal obstruction and recurrent, spontaneous epistaxis. Cases outside the adolescent male population are exceedingly rare and present a diagnostic challenge. We present the case of a man in his 30s referred to our tertiary skull base centre, presenting with left nasal obstruction. Examination showed left nasopharyngeal fullness without a discrete mass. Cross-sectional imaging detailed a 2.5×2.1×1.3 cm mass localised to his left sphenoid sinus with bony erosion. Due to the suspicion of malignancy, multidisciplinary consensus was to perform a diagnostic excisional biopsy and this revealed a JNA. He remains clinically well and asymptomatic following surgery. This case highlights the potential for subtle symptomatology in the presentation of these tumours and the challenge in diagnosing a JNA outside the adolescent male population.