Cerebral angiography

Alternative names:

angiography of the head; carotid angiogram; vertebral angiogram

Normal values:

The X-ray shows normal structures for the age of the patient.

What abnormal results mean:

If the contrast medium flows out of the blood vessel, it may indicate internal bleeding. Narrowed arteries may suggest cholesterol deposits, a spasm, or inherited disorders. If the vessels are displaced, it may be caused by tumors or bleeding within the skull, aneurysm (bulging of the artery walls), or malformation.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• arteriovenous malformation (cerebral)
• cerebral aneurysm
• hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage
• intracerebral hemorrhage
• lobar intracerebral hemorrhage
• metastatic brain tumor
• neurosyphilis
• optic glioma
• pituitary tumor
• polycystic kidney disease
• primary brain tumor
• stroke secondary to carotid dissection
• stroke secondary to carotid stenosis
• stroke secondary to FMD
• stroke secondary to syphilis
• syphilitic aseptic meningitis