Angiogram of the Lung

An angiogram of the lung is an Reference X-ray Opens New Window test that uses a special dye and camera (Reference fluoroscopy Opens New Window) to take pictures of the blood flow in the blood vessels of the lung.

During an angiogram, a thin tube called a catheter is placed into a Reference femoral blood vessel Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window in the groin (femoral vein) or just above the elbow (brachial vein). The catheter is guided to the area to be studied. Then an iodine dye (Reference contrast material Opens New Window) 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.

A lung (pulmonary) angiogram is used to check the arteries that lead to the lungs (pulmonary arteries) and the blood vessels in the lungs. It can also find narrowing or a blockage in a blood vessel that slows or stops blood flow. See an Reference angiogram image showing the blood flow of the lungs Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window.

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