Patient about to undergo an angiogram, image courtesy of WHO.

Angiography or arteriography is a medical imaging technique in which an X-ray image is taken to visualize the inside or (lumen) of blood vessles and organs of the body. Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create Images of the human body (or parts thereof for clinical purposes ( Medical procedures seeking to X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of Electromagnetic radiation. A lumen (Lat lūmen, an opening or light (pl lumina is the inside space or lining of a tubular structure such as an artery or intestine With particular interest in the arteries, veins and the heart chambers. Arteries are Blood vessels that carry blood away from the Heart. In the Circulatory system, a vein is a Blood vessel that carries Blood back toward the Heart (as opposed to Artery, a blood vessel Heart chamber is a general term used to refer to any of the four chambers of the Mammalian Heart (an organ) Right atrium

Its name comes from the Greek words angeion, "vessel", and graphein, "to write or record". Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The X-ray film or image of the blood vessels is called an angiograph, or more commonly, an angiogram. The blood vessels are part of the Circulatory system and function to transport Blood throughout the body

The Portuguese physician and neurologist Egas Moniz, Nobel Prize winner in 1949, developed in 1927 the technique of contrasted x-ray cerebral angiography to diagnose several kinds of nervous diseases, such as tumors and arteriovenous malformations. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. António Caetano de Abreu Freire EGAS MONIZ ('ɛgɐʃ mu'niʃ ( November 29, 1874 &ndash December 13, 1955 The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Cerebral angiography or arteriography is a form of Medical imaging that visualizes the arterial and venous supply of the Brain. Cerebral arteriovenous malformation Arteriovenous malformation or AVM in the majority of cases is a Congenital disorder consisting of a connection between He is usually recognised as one of the pioneers in this field. With the introduction of the Seldinger technique in 1953, the procedure became markedly safer as no sharp introductory devices needed to remain inside the vascular lumen. The Seldinger technique is a Medical procedure to obtain safe access to Blood vessels and other hollow organs It is named after Dr Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Technique

Depending on the type of angiogram, access to the blood vessels is gained most commonly through the Femoral artery, to look at the left side of the heart and the arterial system or the Jugular or Femoral vein, to look at the right side of the heart and the venous system. The femoral artery is a large Artery in the muscles of the Thigh. The jugular veins are Veins that bring deoxygenated blood from the Head back to the heart via the Superior vena cava. In the Human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral Artery in the Femoral sheath. Using a system of Guide wires and Catheters, a type of Contrast agent (which shows up by absorbing the x-rays), is added to the blood to make it visible on the x-ray images. In Medicine a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity duct or vessel Contrast medium Radiocontrast agents (also simply contrast agents or contrast materials) are compounds used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures

The X-ray images taken may either be still images, displayed on a Image intensifier or film, or motion images. X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of Electromagnetic radiation. A night vision device (NVD is an Optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness For all structures except the heart, the images are usually taken using a technique called Digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Images in this case are usually taken at 2 - 3 frames per second, which allows the radiologist to evaluate the flow of the blood through a vessel or vessels. Radiology is the medical specialty directing Medical imaging technologies to diagnose and treat diseases This technique "subtracts" the bones and other organs so only the vessels filled with contrast agent can be seen. The heart images are taken at 15-30 frames per second, not using a subtraction technique. Because DSA requires the patient to remain motionless, it cannot be used on the heart. Both these techniques enable the radiologist or cardiologist to see stenoses (blockages or narrowings) inside the vessel which maybe inhibiting the flow of blood and causing pain.

Uses

Coronary Angiography

Main article: Cardiac catheterization

One of most common angiograms performed is to visualize the blood in the coronary arteries. Cardiac catheterization ( heart cath) is the insertion of a Catheter into a chamber or vessel of the Heart. Coronary circulation is the circulation of blood in the Blood vessels that supply Blood to and from the Heart muscle A long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is used to administer the x-ray contrast agent at the desired area to be visualized. In Medicine a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity duct or vessel The catheter is threaded into an artery in the groin or forearm, and the tip is advanced through the arterial system into one of the two major coronary arteries. In Human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the Torso with the Legs on either side of the Pubic The forearm is the structure on the Upper limb, between the elbow and the Wrist. X-ray images of the transient hiradiocontrast distribution within the blood flowing within the coronary arteries allows visualization of the size of the artery openings. X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of Electromagnetic radiation. Contrast medium Radiocontrast agents (also simply contrast agents or contrast materials) are compounds used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures Presence or absence of atherosclerosis or atheroma within the walls of the arteries cannot be clearly determined. Atherosclerosis is a Disease affecting arterial Blood vessels It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries in large part due to the accumulation In Pathology, an atheroma (plural atheromata is an accumulation and swelling (-oma in Artery walls that is made up of cells (mostly Macrophage cells Arteries are Blood vessels that carry blood away from the Heart. See coronary catheterization for more detail. A coronary catheterization is a Minimally invasive procedure to access the Coronary circulation and blood filled chambers of the Heart using a Catheter

Peripheral Angiography

Main article: Peripheral artery occlusive disease

Angiography is also commonly performed to identify vessel narrowing in patients with leg claudication or cramps, caused by reduced blood flow down the legs and to the feet; in patients with renal stenosis (which commonly causes high blood pressure) and can be used in the head to find and repair stroke. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD is a collator for all Diseases A stenosis ( Plural: stenoses; from Ancient Greek στένωσις "narrowing" is an abnormal narrowing in a Blood vessel These are all done routinely through the femoral artery, but can also be performed through the brachial or axillary (arm) artery. Any stenoses found may be treated by the use of Angioplasty. Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or totally obstructed Blood vessel; typically as a result of Atherosclerosis.

Other

Other angriographic uses include the diagnosis of retinal vascular disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. The vertebrate retina is a light sensitive part inside the inner layer of the Eye. Diabetic retinopathy is Retinopathy (damage to the Retina) caused by complications of Diabetes mellitus, which can eventually lead to Blindness Macular degeneration is a medical condition usually of older adults which results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the Macula) because

Historic usage

The term angiography, or angeiography, was originally used of a description of the weights, measures, vessels, etc, used by several nations. In the Physical sciences weight is a Measurement of the gravitational Force acting on an object

The Future

Due to the advancement in medical imaging, it is now possible to perform almost all Angiograms through a CT scanner, known as Computed tomography angiography. Computed tomography (CT is a Medical imaging method employing Tomography. CTA or Computed tomography angiography is an examination that uses X-rays to visualize blood flow in arterial and venous vessels throughout the body This is better for the patient as it is less invasive with fewer associated risks.

See also

• Intravenous digital subtraction angiography
• Angiography
• Contrast Medium
• Image intensifier
• Computed Tomography Angiography
• Cardiac catheterization
• Peripheral artery occlusive disease

External links

• RadiologyInfo - The radiology information resource for patients: Angiography procedures
• Cardiac Catheterization from Angioplasty. Intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA is a form of Angiography which was first developed in the late 1970s Angiography or arteriography is a Medical imaging technique in which an X-ray image is taken to visualize the inside or lumen, of blood vessels Contrast medium Radiocontrast agents (also simply contrast agents or contrast materials) are compounds used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures A night vision device (NVD is an Optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness CTA or Computed tomography angiography is an examination that uses X-rays to visualize blood flow in arterial and venous vessels throughout the body Cardiac catheterization ( heart cath) is the insertion of a Catheter into a chamber or vessel of the Heart. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD is a collator for all Diseases Org
• Angiography Equipment from Siemens Medical
• Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe
• Worldwide Angiography Manufacturer