Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma in Adolescent Female with Subsequent ICA Canal Dehiscence: An Unknown Entity

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign vascular tumour typically occurring in adolescent males. Presentation beyond this age group and in female is rare. Classically it was surgically removed by various external approaches. Present gold standard of therapy is endoscopic excision. This is less morbid, avoids external scar and allows complete tumour removal under magnified view. Dehiscent internal carotid artery (ICA) canal is a rare condition which presents mostly as a pulsatile tinnitus or otalgia. Accidental injury to the exposed vessel during ear surgery may cause devastating consequences. Present case is a lady who was operated for left NPA 10 years back when she was 11 years age. Presently she presented with left ear pain which was diagnosed to be due to dehiscent ICA canal. We present a comprehensive review of world literature on the incidence of nasopharyngeal and extra-nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in women in the region of nose and para-nasal sinuses. There has been only 3 cases of NPA in adolescent females documented till date. This is the first documented case of NPA in adolescent female with subsequent ICA dehiscence.