Anaesthetic management of head and neck tumours: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas and paragangliomas

SummaryJuvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas as well as head and neck paragangliomas are rare, benign but aggressive tumours for which surgical resection is the treatment of choice. Tumour resection can be accompanied by significant blood loss and postoperative morbidity. Despite the advances in radiological imaging, embolisation of vascular supply and endoscopic resection, these tumours continue to be a challenge and require multidisciplinary management. The tumours though superficially similar in terms of high vascularity, proximity to neurovascular structures as well as difficult anatomical location require differing anaesthetic management depending on the tumour type and location. There is very little literature available on the anaesthetic management of these tumours which may vary depending on the peculiarities of each tumour. This article aims to familiarize anaesthesiologists with the advances in the perioperative management of these patients.