Digital subtraction angiography in the evaluation of chemodectomas

During the last 2 years eleven patients with surgically confirmed chemodectomas have been investigated by means of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Seven patients underwent i.v. DSA, which revealed eight carotid body tumours, and in the remaining four with jugulotympanic chemodectomas intra-arterial (i.a.) DSA was performed. We found i.V. DSA an easy and satisfactory method for the investigation of carotid body tumours but when glomus intravagale, tympanicum or jugulare is suspected an i.a. selective injection is required.