A potential for recurrence of juvenile angiofibroma exists after all treatment modalities, both surgical and medical but the methods of defining recurrence and failure to cure varies considerably from series to series. To evaluate factors which might influence successful treatment, a series of 33 patients have been reviewed retrospectively. All patients were treated by simple or extended lateral rhinotomy as a primary or secondary procedure. The final long-term disease control rate was 97% but during the treatment period the overall symptomatic recurrence rate was 50%. However, amongst those treated primarily the recurrence rate was 34%. Of the factors examined, the strongest predictor of recurrence was preoperative embolisation. This group exhibited both early and multiple recurrence when compared with the non-embolised group and the possible reasons for this are examined.