Cerebral angiography

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Brain

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the left artery

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the right artery

• Tell the health care provider if you are pregnant or if you have ever had any bleeding problems. Allergic reactions to x-ray contrast dye or any iodine substance, as well as any other allergic reactions, should be mentioned.
• You must sign a consent form.
• Routine blood tests will be done and an examination of the nervous system performed before the procedure.
• Food or fluid may be restricted 4 - 8 hours before the procedure.
• You will be given a hospital gown to wear. You must remove all jewelry.
• A sedative or pain pill may be given to you before the procedure.

The x-ray table may be hard and cold, but you may ask for a blanket or pillow. There is a brief sting when the local anesthetic (numbing medicine) is given. This medicine does not numb the artery, so there will be brief, sharp pain as the catheter is inserted into the artery. There is a slight feeling of pressure as the catheter moves through your blood vessels.

As the dye is injected, there may be a warmth or burning sensation. You may experience a slight headache or feel flushed on the side of the face. There may be slight tenderness and bruising at the site of the injection after the test.

The test is most frequently used to confirm cases of stroke, tumor, bulging of the artery walls, a clot, or a narrowing of the arteries. It is also done to evaluate the arteries of the head and neck before surgery. This procedure is used to get more exact information after something abnormal has been detected by an MRI or CT scan of the head. An example of such abnormality would be bleeding within the brain.

Review Date: 10/25/2006
Reviewed By: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.