Thyroid angiography.

Twelve patients were studied by selective thyroid angiography for the evaluation of solitary thyroid nodule. Under aseptic conditions with local anesthesia a No 7 preshaped catheter was introduced through the femoral artery and guided to the thyrocervical trunk and inferior thyroid artery. Selectively, 2 to 6 cc of the contrast material was injected and a series of radiographs were taken. Striking differences were noticed in vessels in abnormal thyroid gland. In colloid goiter there was no filling of the vessels in the nodule. In fetal adenoma there was unusual branching of the vessels but no arteriovenous communications. In carcinoma, along with increased vascularities and abnormal branching, arteriovenous communications were noted.