What is angiography?
Angiography is a radiological examination in which the vessels are filled with contrast medium in order to make them visible with the help of X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography and to depict them in a so-called angiogram. A distinction is made depending on the type of vessels examined:
- Angiography of the arteries (arteriography)
- Angiography of the veins (phlebography)
- Angiography of the lymphatic vessels (lymphography)
When do you do an angiography?
Angiography: Heart
Angiography of the heart is also known as coronary angiography. It visualizes the coronary arteries, which may be altered or blocked as part of coronary artery disease or a heart attack. It can also visualize the heart’s internal spaces and assess their size and function.
Angiography: Eye
Angiography: Brain
Cerebral angiography (lat. Cerebrum = brain) is used to visualize the blood vessels in the brain as well as the vessels supplying the neck. This is done, for example, if there is a suspicion of a brain tumor, a cerebral hemorrhage or vascular diseases in the cranial region.
Angiography: legs
If there is an intolerance to contrast media, CO2 angiography can also be performed on the legs. In this case, the contrast medium is replaced by carbon dioxide.
What is done during an angiography?
Before the actual examination, your doctor will take a medical history and explain the risks and benefits of the procedure. In addition, your blood values will be measured.
Finally, the catheter is removed and a pressure dressing is applied over the puncture site.
A special form is digital subtraction angiography (DSA), in which images are taken both before and after contrast distribution. A computer removes identical areas on both images. What remains are the contrast medium-filled vessels, so that they are particularly clearly visible.
Time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF angiography) does not require a contrast agent because here the images are created by magnetizing freshly inflowing blood. This takes advantage of the fact that hemoglobin (the iron-containing red blood pigment) has different magnetic properties when it is loaded or unloaded with oxygen. TOF angiography is used specifically when vessels in the skull are to be examined.
Angiography is a relatively uncomplicated examination. When the contrast medium is injected, there may be a feeling of warmth or an unpleasant taste in the mouth. These harmless side effects disappear immediately after the injection.
A vascular puncture can lead to bleeding, bruising, thrombosis (vessel occlusion due to a blood clot at the site of its formation) or embolism (vessel occlusion due to a blood clot formed elsewhere), vascular injury or infection.
