Radiographic staging of juvenile angiofibroma

Abstract

A staging system for juvenile angiofibroma based on computerized tomographic findings is suggested. The need for such an endeavor has come about because of a lack of standardization of tumor data in both individual series and interinstitutional reports. The various stages reflect the number of anatomic sites occupied by a lesion rather than the actual tumor size. The "simpler" tumors are confined to the medial part of the skull base and are entirely extracranial. As a tumor extends laterally and/or intracranially, the staging designation, and therefore the treatment plan, changes accordingly. Presumably, with the application of consistent diagnostic tools and standardized stage designations, the analysis of both morbidity and treatment data will become more meaningful.