Juvenile angiofibromas are benign vascular tumors that usually develop in the back of the nasal cavity in young males around the time of puberty. However, in up to 20% of cases, this kind of head and neck tumor may be diagnosed in males after the age of 20, and have been reported up to the age of 50. Almost all patients that have a juvenile angiofibroma are males.

Causes
there may be a hormonal cause of this tumor since most of these occur in young males. There are no known risk factors for the development of these tumors.

Symptoms
Patients with an angiofibroma may experience frequent or repeated nosebleeds, difficulty breathing through the nose, easy bruising or nasal discharge.

Diagnosis
A visual examination is used of the area between the back end of the inferior turbinate and in front of the eustachian tube. CT scanning may also be used to determine the true extent of these tumors.

Treatment
If the angiofibroma is growing larger, blocking the airways, or causing repeated nosebleeds, surgery may be needed to remove the tumor. The tumor may be hard to remove if it is not enclosed or has spread to other areas. Newer endoscopic surgery techniques using a camera and small instruments through the nose have made tumor removal surgery less invasive.