Digital subtraction angiography in head & neck diseases

Eighty-eight patients who presented with a variety of head and neck symptoms were examined with intravenous oritraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IV or IA DSA), using the DSA equipment developed by Seoul NationalUniversity Hospital. A grading system was used to evaluate the ability of DSA to answer specific diagnsoticquestions. Diagnostic information without need of further study was obtained in 71% with IV DSA, in 86% withaortic arch DSA and in 81% with selective arterial DSA, showing a total of 79% of diagnostic accuracy with DSA. Itis concluded that IV DSA is useful in the evaluation of the cervical carotid and vertebral arterial disease, andpituitary mass lesion, while IA DSA is useful in the evaluation of the cervical carotid and vertebral arterialdisease, and pituitary mass lesion, while IA DSA is useful in the evaluation of most of the intracranial lesions,spinal arteriography and intra-arterial embolization. DSA is both an accurate and safe imaging modality in thestudy of head and neck diseases.