• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Arteriogram

• Overview
• Risks

Definition:

Arteriography is test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. It can be used to see arteries in the heart, brain, kidney, and many other parts of the body.

The procedure is often called angiography.

See also:

• Coronary angiography (heart)
• Aortic angiography (the major artery from the heart)
• Renal arteriography (kidneys)
• Extremity arteriography (arm or leg)
• Cerebral angiography (head)
• Pulmonary angiography (lungs)
• Lymphangiogram (lymph vessels)
• Ventriculography ( right side or left side of the heart)
• Fluorescein angiography (eye)

Alternative Names:

Angiogram; Angiography

How the test is performed:

The test is done in a medical lab. The exact procedure depends on the part of the body being examined.

In general, a dye, called contrast material, is injected into your blood stream. X-rays will be taken to see how the dye flows through your arteries. The test can be used to determine if there are any blocked or damage arteries.

How to prepare for the test:

How you should prepare depends on the part of the body being examined. The health care provider may tell you to stop taking certain drugs that could affect the test. In some cases, you may be able to eat or drink anything for a few hours before the test.

How the test will feel:

You may have some discomfort from a needle stick. Depending upon the type of arteriogram being performed, you may have a variety of symptoms when the doctor injects the contrast material. For example, those who have a cerebral arteriogram may feel a brief flushing across the head.

If you had an IV put into your groin area, you will usually be asked to lie flat on your back for a few hours after the test to avoid bleeding. This may cause some back discomfort.

Why the test is performed:

An arteriogram is done to see how blood moves through the arteries, and to check for a blockage. Sometimes, treatments can be done at the same time as an arteriogram.

• Review Date: 7/17/2006
• Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.