Angiogram
Angiogram
An Angiogram (pronounced: an-gee-o-gram) is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inside, or lumen, of blood vessels and organs of the body, with particular interest in the arteries, veins, and the heart chambers. This is traditionally done by injecting a radio-opaque contrast agent into the blood vessel and imaging using X-ray based techniques such as fluoroscopy.
Etymology
The term "Angiogram" is derived from the Greek words Angio- meaning "vessel" and gram meaning "drawing".
Procedure
The procedure involves inserting a thin tube (a catheter) into a blood vessel in the arm or leg, and guiding it to the area to be studied. Once the catheter is in place, the contrast agent is injected and images are captured.
Types of Angiograms
There are several types of angiograms, including:
- Coronary angiogram: This is used to detect blockages in the coronary arteries that could lead to a heart attack.
- Cerebral angiogram: This is used to examine the blood vessels in the brain.
- Pulmonary angiogram: This is used to look at the blood vessels in the lungs.
- Renal angiogram: This is used to look at the blood vessels in the kidneys.
Risks and Complications
Like any medical procedure, an angiogram carries some risks. These may include bleeding, infection, allergic reaction to the contrast agent, and damage to the blood vessels. In rare cases, the procedure can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Related Terms
- Angiography: The process of performing an angiogram.
- Catheter: A thin tube used in medical procedures.
- Contrast agent: A substance used to make certain structures or fluids within the body more visible on medical imaging.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Angiogram
- Wikipedia's article - Angiogram
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski