What is Angiography and Angiogram For?
Angiography is the name of a procedure that produces a picture (the "angiogram") of blood vessels (arteries and veins) inside the body. Angiograms can be made with MRI and Ultrasound (no radiation). Angiograms can also be made by using CT or a catheter and an image intensifier/fluoroscope - both use X-Rays.
Arch Aortagram - oblique view. Normal anatomy
Catheter Angiography is an "invasive procedure", because it requires the injection into the patient of a substance that is radiopaque (absorbs X-Rays). This substance is commonly called a "Contrast Agent" or "Dye".
CT Angiogram - oblique view. Pulmonary AVM
Usually a very tiny tube, that has a special shape, is used to place the contrast into a particular artery or vein. While the artery or vein contains this radiopaque material, it will block the X-Rays, and will cast a shadow of the injected vessels onto the X-Ray film or fluoroscope. This image will reveal the shape of the artery, and can help to diagnose an obstruction, blockage, or narrowing ("stenosis").
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