Spontaneous involution of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

There are several studies addressing regression of residual nasopharyngeal angiofibroma after surgery, but spontaneous regression of this tumor has been reported in only 2 cases. We present a case of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma that has involuted spontaneously in the last 5 years. The tumor had been diagnosed at another institute. Computed tomography taken in 2002 had revealed the tumor occupying the entire sphenoid sinus and the pterygopalatine fossa, extending to the cavernous sinus and the infratemporal fossa on the right side. The vascularization of the tumor had been mainly from the internal maxillary artery on angiography. The internal maxillary artery had been occluded with a coil, but branches of internal carotid artery could not be embolized due to high risks of complications. In 2004 the patient was seen at our institute, and this time, repeated angiography revealed rich vascularization from the internal carotid artery. The patient did not accept any treatment and was put on follow-up. He had no complaint in January 2007. The tumor was seen to disappear completely, except a little remnant at the right pterygopalatine fossa on computed tomography. This is the third reported case in the literature with spontaneous regression of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.