Cerebral Angiography
A spinal angiogram is a medical procedure that uses dye and low-dose X-rays to get a detailed look at the blood vessels surrounding the spine and spinal cord. The test is performed by specially trained doctors called neuro-angiographers.
Dye is slowly injected into an artery feeding the spine or spinal cord via a catheter inserted in the groin. As the dye fills the arteries and veins, it shows up on an X-ray, providing a clear picture that allows doctors to identify problems such as:
Who might need a spinal angiogram?
Your doctor may recommend spinal angiography if he or she suspects you have a condition affecting blood vessels around the spine or spinal cord. Those may include:
Spinal cord vascular malformations, such as dural arteriovenous fistulas and arteriovenous malformations
Certain types of spinal cord stroke: An artery surrounding the spinal cord can become narrowed due to blood vessel disease. A piece of plaque or a blood clot can block the diseased artery and cut off blood supply to part of the spinal cord.
Spinal venous thrombosis, a blockage in a vein near the spinal cord.
Spine and spinal cord tumors
Spinal angiography is sometimes used in situations when an MRI cannot provide a clear picture. Interventional neuroradiologists may also use spinal angiography to plan treatments for the above conditions, such as blocking blood supply to a vascular mass (embolization). Certain treatments can be performed at the same time as spinal angiography, with X-rays providin guidance.
