Cerebellopontine angle tumor: diagnosis by oblique projection vertebral angiography.

Oblique projection vertebral angiography is the simplest and most accurate angiographic method of detecting small cerebellopontine angle tumors. The vascular blood supply to the tumor and brainstem is displayed as the surgeon will encounter it during lateral suboccipital craniotomy. The procedure is comfortable for the patient, technically easy to perform, and reproducible. Interpretation is relatively unaffected by variations in vascular anatomy or superimposed vessel or bone images. This method can be used to supplement routine views, or be performed alone with stereoscopic filming.