Juvenile Angiofibromas

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2024
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What are juvenile angiofibromas?

Juvenile angiofibromas are rare clumps of blood vessels that grow where your child's throat and nasal passages meet (near the adenoids).

  • Juvenile angiofibromas are most common in teenage boys

  • They grow slowly and can spread into the area around the brain and eye sockets

What are the symptoms of juvenile angiofibromas?

  • A stuffy nose

  • Headache

  • Nosebleeds that may be very bad

  • A swollen face

  • A bulging eye

  • Changes in the shape of the nose

How can doctors tell if my child has a juvenile angiofibroma?

Doctors will usually do a CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

How do doctors treat juvenile angiofibromas?

  • Usually, doctors will do surgery to remove the clump

  • Doctors may also use radiation therapy, especially if the clump is difficult to remove fully or if it comes back

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