The Radiotherapy of Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma

Between 1946 and 1971, 39 patients including 3 females with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were seen at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto. Bone destruction with extension into the air sinuses, orbit, and cranium was seen in 30 of 38 patients. The tumor and its many ramifications are best detected by coronal tomography. Radiotherapy consisting of 3,000 rads in three weeks leads to thrombosis, fibrosis and tumor regression, although two years may pass before it finally disappears. Following irradiation, only 6 patients suffered tumor recurrence and 4 of these required radiotherapy before the lesion finally disappeared.