Pediatric nasal tumor care and support
The Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) specialty group helps people with a type of nasal and paranasal tumor that mainly affects male children and adolescents. It's called juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) — a rare and complex nose tumor in children. It develops from blood vessels in the nasal cavity. The tumor bleeds and forms scar tissue in response to hormones, which is why it tends to grow during growth spurts.
What are the symptoms of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma?
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas, also known as JNAs, aren't cancer, but they can grow into the sinuses, the eye socket, the skull and the main artery that runs to the brain. Symptoms of pediatric nasal growths include difficulty breathing through the nose, nosebleeds, runny nose, vision problems, loss of sense of smell and taste, facial numbness or swelling, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath.
How do you get rid of a juvenile nasal angiofibroma?
Nasal tumor treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor. This approach often cures this condition.
Our team of nationally recognized experts offer diagnostic and treatment services for juvenile nasal tumors through the Otolaryngology (ENT)/Head and Neck Surgery Department at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Advanced diagnosis and treatment
Before surgery (left), a very large tumor — a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) — is the white section at the center marked by the arrow. After surgery (right), the tumor is gone.
Early diagnosis of nose tumors in children and expert care can make a big difference in outcomes. The Mayo Clinic Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) specialty group is uniquely equipped to ensure that your child has the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Our doctors may have your child undergo special tests to pinpoint the exact type of nasal tumor present. Testing, when done correctly by experts familiar with this disease, may not only yield a correct diagnosis but also help determine the best treatment for your child.
Nasal tumor treatment is removal of the tumor with surgery. The procedure is highly complex because of the location of the tumor, the many blood vessels in and around the tumor, and the young age of most people with this condition.
Surgeons experienced with this type of surgery use advanced techniques that preserve the function of healthy tissue in this sensitive area.
A day before surgery, your child may undergo a procedure to seal off certain blood vessels around the tumor. This is called arterial embolization. It reduces blood loss during surgery.
To remove the tumor, the surgeon uses an approach called endoscopic endonasal surgery. It involves guiding a small camera and tools through tiny incisions in the nostrils. If a tumor is too large for this approach, the surgeon may access the tumor through the mouth or scalp.
Our group aims to completely remove the tumor during surgery. We don't use radiation therapy in this young population to avoid the risk of radiation-induced cancer later in life.
Living with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma?
Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Support Group on Mayo Clinic Connect, a patient community.
A team approach
Our skull base team takes a multidisciplinary approach to JNA that's vital to successful treatment and outcomes. Your child's JNA care is directed by a surgeon who specializes in skull-base surgery. This type of doctor is called an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon or otolaryngologist. Your child's care team might also include experts in neurosurgery, radiology, anesthesiology, critical care, ophthalmology and 3D anatomic modeling. The JNA team also includes nurses with experience in treating these types of tumors. Together this committed team develops a treatment plan tailored to your child. It uses advanced approaches that deliver unprecedented outcomes.
Because children and adolescents are more likely to get JNA, access to pediatric services is important. The JNA team in Minnesota coordinates with doctors who specialize in conditions that affect children. These doctors are called pediatricians. For example, during surgery, an expert in pediatric anesthesiology works closely with the surgical team.
Our JNA experts also offer second opinions. If you wish, the clinic will send a full report to your child's primary care professional or other referring healthcare professional.
Mayo Clinic Children's Center
Highly skilled pediatric experts diagnose and treat all types of conditions in children. As a team, we work together to find answers, set goals and develop a treatment plan tailored to your child's needs.
Learn more about the Children's Center.
Virtual visits
Virtual visits are a useful option, especially for people who are considering traveling to Mayo Clinic from a long distance. These discussions between you and a Mayo Clinic JNA specialist can be done over the phone or by videoconference. You'll be asked to submit photographs, lab results and CT images before the appointment.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic is a national and international referral center for JNA. Because so many people come to us for help with this condition, our doctors are experienced with the many ways this disease can affect the body. This is key to selecting the best treatment for your child. If your child needs surgery, it will be done by a surgeon certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology & neurosurgery and ear, nose & throat by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
Research and innovation
Mayo Clinic physician-scientists are nationally recognized leaders in advancing the understanding of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. They have:
- Developed less invasive approaches for the surgical removal of this type of tumor.
- Led the development of surgical techniques to minimize surgical trauma in skull base surgery and improve quality of life of patients after the surgery.
- Described anatomical landmarks to make skull base surgery safer.
- Pioneered reconstruction techniques to close the surgical cavity after the tumor is removed to avoid complications such as CSF leaks and meningitis.
- Developed anatomical training programs to teach surgeons these advanced surgical techniques.
Our team is committed to research that improves diagnosis and treatment for people with JNA. Read about Mayo Clinic's research on head and neck surgery here. And talk with your doctor about new ways to treat this condition that might help your child.
Publications
See a list of publications about juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma by Mayo Clinic authors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.
Mayo Clinic is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Our world-class experts work together to provide comprehensive care to more than 1 million patients from over 130 countries every year. People who come to Mayo Clinic are frequently among the first to benefit from innovative therapies, new techniques and technology, and clinical research trials. Because we are continuously researching and developing new treatments, we can inspire new hope.
Appointments
You may be referred by your child's primary care professional, or you may make an appointment without a referral. Your child's situation is reviewed before you travel to Mayo Clinic, to ensure that your trip is of benefit.
Contact
Minnesota