[Values and limitations of embolization in cervical paragangliomas. Definition of a new diagnostic strategy. Apropos of 20 cases].

From 1966 to 1986, twenty cervical paragangliomas are treated by the authors: seven vagals and thirteen carotid one's. Seven patients out of these twenty underwent an embolisation during the pre-op arteriography. Studying the results, the authors show how much this embolisation increases the risk of a per-op carotid resection with by-pass, especially for the carotid localization. Dropping the embolisation, gives a chance for a new and, more acute diagnostic strategy, based on computerized tomography and digitalized arteriography. These exams should avoid the per-op discovery of these tumors in more than one half of the cases during an exploratory initial cervicotomy.