Analysis of intra-operative bleeding and recurrence of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas

The purpose of this study is to present our experience with 34 patients diagnosed with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas and treated in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between 1986 and 1999, and to examine the factors influencing intra-operative bleeding and tumour recurrence. The age of the patient, the duration of symptoms and tumour stage were related to the amount of intra-operative bleeding. The tumours were totally resected in 30 patients and recurred in five patients (16.7%), with a mean follow-up time of 77 months. The mean time to tumour recurrence after operation was 3.2 months (1-6 months). The incidence of recurrence had no correlation with the age of the patient, duration of symptoms, peri-operative treatment or surgical approaches (P > 0.05); but strongly correlated with tumour stage (P < 0.05).