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Angiogram of the Head and Neck - Test Overview
About this test
An angiogram of the head and neck is an X-ray test that uses a special dye and camera (fluoroscopy) to take pictures of the blood flow in the blood vessels of the head and neck. An angiogram of the neck (carotid angiogram) can be used to look at the large arteries in the neck that lead to the brain. An angiogram of the head (cerebral angiogram) can be used to look at the veins or the four arteries (four-vessel study) carrying blood to the brain.
During an angiogram, a thin, soft tube called a catheter is
placed into a blood vessel in the groin (femoral artery or vein) or just above
the elbow (brachial artery or vein). See a picture of
catheter placement in the femoral vein 
. The catheter is guided to the head and
neck area. Then an iodine dye (contrast material) is injected into the
vessel to make the area show clearly on the X-ray pictures. The angiogram
pictures can be made into regular X-ray films or stored as digital pictures in
a computer.
An angiogram can find a bulge in a blood vessel (aneurysm). It can also show narrowing or a blockage in a blood vessel that slows or stops blood flow. An abnormal pattern of blood vessels (arteriovenous [AV] malformation) or abnormal vessels near a tumor can be seen.
See a picture of the
blood supply to the brain .
A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) or computed tomography angiogram (CTA) may be an option instead of a standard angiogram. Each of these tests is less invasive than an angiogram. Some MRA tests and all CTA tests require an injection of dye. A CTA also involves radiation exposure.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: December 5, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Howard Schaff, MD - Diagnostic Radiology | |
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