Angiographic observations on chemodectomas of the head and neck

Angiographic experience with chemodectomas in 21 patients is reviewed. Arterial supply was identified from the vertebral artery, the internal carotid artery, and branches of the external carotid artery. A striated cephalad extension from a cervical chemodectoma (five patients) is believed to represent arterial supply to tumor in vein. In two patients, internal and external carotid arteriograms did not opacify important arteries originating near the carotid bifurcation. Retrograde filling of sigmoid sinus (four patients), tumor mass in jugular vein (two patients), and arteriovenous shunting (nine patients) were observed during the venous phase. Thorough angiogra phy is essential for evaluation of chemodectomas of the head and neck.