Cerebral angiography

What is a cerebral angiogram?

An angiogram is an X-ray test that produces high-resolution images of the blood vessels. Cerebral angiograms produce imaging of the blood vessels of the head and neck.

The test involves insertion of a tube in the groin or wrist that is then navigated through the body to the vessel of interest. An iodine based dye (known as ‘contrast’) is then injected through the tube.

Why is cerebral angiography performed? Cerebral angiograms are commonly performed to diagnose diseases of the blood vessels such as:

• Cerebral aneurysms

• Carotid stenosis

• Dural arteriovenous fistulas

They are also used to follow-up diseases previously treated.

Why not just do a CT or MRI?

The image quality is often superior when using angiography, allowing the discovery of diseases that do not show up on alternative scans and allowing the planning of certain procedures. As CT and MRI scans are safer, faster, and usually more pleasant to undergo we only do cerebral angiograms when we need to. Having said that, generally the risk (and degree of unpleasantness) is not usually very great.