Medical expert of the article
New publications
Benign tumors of the nasopharynx: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The most common benign tumors of the nasopharynx are papilloma and juvenile angiofibroma.
Papilloma is most often localized on the back surface of the soft palate, less often on the lateral and back walls of the nasopharynx. Papilloma of this localization is somewhat more common in males. The tumor has a characteristic appearance: it is grayish in color, on a wide base, with a granular surface. Isolated lesion of the nasopharynx occurs very rarely. The final diagnosis is based on histological examination data.
Treatment is surgical. Papilloma can be removed using an ultrasonic disintegrator, laser beam or surgitron.
Juvenile angiofibroma is one of the most common tumors of the nasopharynx, has locally destructive growth, and occurs at the base of the nasopharynx in boys and young men.
Histologically, the tumor consists of connective tissue and vessels of varying degrees of maturity. Vascular elements are located chaotically and are represented by a set of vascular formations with thickened or thinned walls.
The clinical picture is quite typical. The tumor grows relatively quickly. Nasal breathing progressively worsens. Along with difficulty in nasal breathing, hearing gradually decreases in one, less often in both ears. Angiofibroma is characterized by nosebleeds. As the tumor grows, the intensity and frequency of bleeding increase. From the nasopharynx, angiofibroma penetrates the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, primarily the sphenoid sinus. The tumor can cause destruction of the base of the skull and penetrate into its cavity. In this case, headache joins the listed symptoms.
Posterior rhinoscopy or fibroscopy reveals a bluish, tuberculate, dense formation on a broad base. Valuable information can be obtained from radiographic examination, in particular CT.
Treatment is surgical. The main difficulty that arises when performing operations on angiofibroma is profuse, life-threatening bleeding. The methods of tumor sclerotherapy recommended by some authors to reduce intraoperative bleeding by introducing alcohol or formalin are ineffective. Patient training for this purpose is also unjustified.
The tumor is removed through a wide external approach: a Moore incision is made, sometimes with a dissection of the upper lip along the midline. The external carotid artery is preliminarily ligated on the tumor side (rarely both external carotid arteries). Preliminary ligation of the external carotid artery leads to a significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss; a wide external approach ensures the radicalism of the intervention, and therefore its high efficiency. In recent years, embolization of the afferent vessels has been performed to reduce blood loss.
Neurofibroma, schwannoma, chemodectoma, teratoma, meningioma and other benign tumors in the nasopharynx occur extremely rarely.
[ Where does it hurt?
What do need to examine?