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Angiography or Angiogram

Interventional Radiologists are Vascular Experts

Interventional radiologists use imaging to diagnose, understand and visualize the full scope of the pathology and to map out the procedure tailored to the individual patient. Angiography is an X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems.

An interventional radiologist performs this X-ray procedure, which is also called an angiogram. During the angiogram, the doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into the artery through a small nick in the skin about the size of the tip of a pencil. A substance called a contrast agent (X-ray dye) is injected to make the blood vessels visible on the X-ray.

One of the most common reasons for angiograms is to see if there is a blockage or narrowing in a blood vessel that may interfere with the normal flow of blood through the body. In many cases, the interventional radiologist can treat a blocked blood vessel without surgery at the same time the angiogram is performed. Interventional radiologists treat blockages with techniques called angioplasty andthrombolysis.

Additional Reasons for Performing Angiography or Angiogram

• aneurysms -- an area of a blood vessel that bulges or balloons out

• cerebral vascular disease, such as stroke or bleeding in the brain

• blood vessel malformations

• Angiography - NHS Choice

  Introduction 

  

  Areas that can be checked using an angiography

  The heart is one of the most common areas of the body that can be checked using an angiography. A coronary angiographycan check the flow of blood into the heart and help to diagnoseheart disease.

  Other areas of the body that can be examined using an angiography include the:

  • brain (cerebral angiography)
  • lungs (pulmonary angiography)
  • kidneys (renal angiography)
  • arms or legs (extremity angiography)

  For further details about how the procedure is used to check these areas of the body, see Angiography - what is it used for.