Angiography: Difference between revisions
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (New page: '''Angiography''' is a medical imaging technique, in which a catheter is threaded through a series of blood vessels, to reach an area of interest. It is guided by imaging techniques, usual...) |
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Revision as of 00:13, 17 August 2008
Angiography is a medical imaging technique, in which a catheter is threaded through a series of blood vessels, to reach an area of interest. It is guided by imaging techniques, usually fluoroscopy, but it is not restricted to radiologists; it is a basic technique, for example, of invasive cardiology.
Once the catheter tip is in place, a contrast medium is injected through the catheter, making the vessel wall opaque to X-rays, and thus possible to visualize constrictions or tears inside it. While the catheter is in place, other measurements may be taken, such as pressure; cardiac catheterization combines angiography and pressure measurements.
Related techniques include intravascular ultrasonography, with the ultrasonic sound waves generated at the tip of the catheter.