Introduction. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma are benign tumors, with
locally aggressive behavior. Preoperative tumor embolization with polyvinyl
alcohol particles can reduce intraoperative blood loss and facilitate
surgical resection. Case outline. A 16-year-old male, was admitted to
hospital due to profuse epistaxis and sense of nose fullness. MDCT
examination showed a tumor mass in the right nasal cavity with extension to
the right maxillary sinus and ethmoidal cells on the right, and in the left
nasal cavity. It rested on the nasal septum, but without bone destruction.
After application of contrast agent, described mass became intensely
opacified. Preprocedural digital subtraction angiography of external and
internal carotid arteries of both sides showed extensive pathological
vascularization, which received main contribution from branches of maxillary
artery on right and, to a lesser extent, on left side. Due to danger of
penetration of a particle embolization agent of smaller diameter into
orbital branches and possible retrograde migration into carotid artery, we
decided to apply particle embolization agent of larger diameter (500-700 ??)
than prescribed by modern standards. Tumor was completely surgically removed
third day after embolization, and patient was discharged without any
neurological deficit. Control contrast enhanced MDCT-s were performed at
third and seventh month after surgery and showed no tumor residue or
recurrence. Conclusion. The use of particles of larger diameter gave
satisfactory results during operation - surgical excision of tumor, when
dangerous anastomoses do not allow use of particles of smaller diameter and
can be safely performed without significant neurological nor systemic
complications.