Angiography of occlusive vascular disease

Angiography is still "the gold standard" of diagnosis of arterial and venous disease. With improvement of equipment, materials and contrast media, angiography has become less invasive and increased its image quality. Because the resolution of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has been improved and the size of image intensifier has become large enough, DSA is being substituted for conventional angiography. Rotational DSA and stepping DSA have made it possible to evaluate a vessel from multi-direction or the whole lower extremity with one injection of contrast media. Improvement of catheter, guide wire and contrast media has reduced complications and made angiography less invasive examination. Progress of angiography contributes to interventional radiology, which uses the technique of angiography for therapy.