Why would you need or get an Angiogram?

An angiogram can find a bulge in a blood vessel (aneurysm). It can also show narrowing or a blockage in a blood vessel that affects blood flow. An angiogram can show if coronary artery disease is present and how bad it is.

An angiogram may be done to:

• Detect problems with blood vessels that affect blood flow. Examples of such problems include a tear in a blood vessel which can cause blockage or internal bleeding, aneurysms (weaknesses in the blood vessel wall), and narrowed areas.

• Look for a source of bleeding, such as an ulcer.

• Look for changes in the blood vessels of injured or damaged organs.

• Show the pattern of blood flow to a tumor. This can figure out how much the tumor has spread and also figure out the best form of treatment.

• Show the condition, number, and location of renal arteries before a kidney transplant.

• Prepare for surgery on diseased blood vessels of the legs in people who have severe leg pain when walking.

• Check how bad atherosclerosis is in the coronary arteries if a patient has been having unresolved heart trouble.