Cervical angina. A correlative study with emphasis on the use of coronary arteriography.

A total of 438 patients with cervical angina were evaluated from 1966 to 1979. Of these 88 were treated surgically. This article emphasizes the inadequacy of established noninvasive diagnostic criteria for coronary disease and the importance of coronary arteriography. Statistics are presented for coronary diagnostic criteria for decision-making for surgery, for levels of surgery, choice of surgical procedures, and results of surgery. A total of 78.2 percent who underwent cervical spine surgery were rated as excellent; 16.1 percent fair; 2.3 percent poor; and 3.4 percent had inadequate length of follow-up.