Angiocardiography
Encyclopedia
Angiocardiography is a technique for radiographic examination of the heart
chambers and thoracic veins
and arteries
. A liquid radiocontrast
agent, typically containing iodine
, is injected into the bloodstream, then the tissues are examined using X-ray
s. To avoid dilution, the radiopaque material is typically introduced with a catheter
, a process known as selective angiocardiography. The X-ray image is normally captured on high speed serial media that allows the motion to be observed, such as 35mm film. The process requires fasting before the test, with a sedative and an antihistamine being administered before the test.
An angiocardiography can be used to detect and diagnose congentical defects in the heart and adjacent vessels. The use of angiocardiography has declined with the introduction of echocardiography
. However, angiocardiography is still in use for selected cases as it provides a higher level of anatomical detail than echocardiography.
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
chambers and thoracic veins
Internal thoracic vein
In human anatomy, the internal thoracic vein is a vessel that drains the chest wall and mamma, a term used for breast in anatomy....
and arteries
Internal thoracic artery
In human anatomy, the internal thoracic artery , previously known as the internal mammary artery , is an artery that supplies the anterior chest wall and the breasts...
. A liquid radiocontrast
Radiocontrast
Radiocontrast agents are a type of medical contrast medium used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures in an X-ray based imaging techniques such as computed tomography or radiography...
agent, typically containing iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
, is injected into the bloodstream, then the tissues are examined using X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s. To avoid dilution, the radiopaque material is typically introduced with a catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
, a process known as selective angiocardiography. The X-ray image is normally captured on high speed serial media that allows the motion to be observed, such as 35mm film. The process requires fasting before the test, with a sedative and an antihistamine being administered before the test.
An angiocardiography can be used to detect and diagnose congentical defects in the heart and adjacent vessels. The use of angiocardiography has declined with the introduction of echocardiography
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram, often referred to in the medical community as a cardiac ECHO or simply an ECHO, is a sonogram of the heart . Also known as a cardiac ultrasound, it uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart...
. However, angiocardiography is still in use for selected cases as it provides a higher level of anatomical detail than echocardiography.