Overview
A coronary angiogram is a test that uses X-rays to look at the heart’s blood vessels, called the coronary arteries. It’s usually done to see if a blood vessel is narrowed or blocked. A coronary angiogram is most often used to diagnose coronary artery disease.
A coronary angiogram is part of a general group of heart tests and treatments called cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization uses one or more thin, flexible tubes, called catheters. The tubes are placed within the major blood vessels of the body and the heart. The test requires a small cut in the skin. During a coronary angiogram, a treatment called angioplasty and stenting can be done to open any blocked arteries.
Sometimes, a computerized tomography (CT) machine is used to look at the heart’s blood vessels. This type of angiogram doesn’t need tubes placed inside the body. It’s called a coronary CT angiogram (CCTA). It may be done to determine whether someone needs cardiac catheterization. A narrowing or blockage in the vessels cannot be treated during a CT angiogram. If the test shows a blocked or narrowed artery, the catheter type of coronary angiogram must be done.
This article focuses on coronary angiogram with cardiac catheterization.
Why it’s done
A coronary angiogram is done to look for narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the heart.
Your healthcare team may suggest a coronary angiogram if you have:
- Chest pain, called angina.
- Pain in the chest, jaw, neck or arm that can’t be explained by other tests.
- Blood vessel problems.
- A heart problem you were born with, called a congenital heart defect.
- Irregular results on an exercise stress test.
- Chest injury.
- Heart valve disease that needs surgery.
An angiogram typically is not done until other noninvasive tests are used to check the heart. Such tests might include an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram or a stress test.
