Coronary angiography

Blood vessels of the heart

With cardiac catheterization, the heart itself

To diagnose coronary artery disease and other heart disorders

To determine whether angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery is feasible

To determine the severity of a heart disorder

To identify the cause of chest pain, shortness of breath, or certain other symptoms

To clarify the specific structure of a person’s heart before heart valve replacement surgery

Aortography

Aorta

To check for the following:

• Bulges in a weakened wall (aneurysms)

• Tears in the lining (dissection)

• Leakage of the valve between the aorta and left ventricle (aortic regurgitation)

Cerebral angiography

Blood vessels of the brain

To check for the following:

• Narrowed or blocked blood vessels (which can cause an ischemic stroke)

• Aneurysms

• Abnormal connections between arteries and veins (arteriovenous malformations in the brain)

• Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)

Blood vessels of the eye

To evaluate damage to the retina due to diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) or macular degeneration

To evaluate the retina before laser therapy

Peripheral arteriography

Arteries of the arms, legs, and trunk, except the aorta and arteries of the heart

To check for the following:

• Narrowing or blockages (occlusive peripheral arterial disease)

• Aneurysms

• Abnormal channels between an artery and a vein (arteriovenous fistulas)

• Abnormal connections between arteries and veins (arteriovenous malformations)

Pulmonary angiography*

Blood vessels of the lungs

To diagnose pulmonary embolism (blockage by blood clots in the pulmonary arteries, which lead from the heart to the lungs) and identify abnormalities of pulmonary arteries and veins