ANGULATED VIEWS IN THE SAGITTAL PLANE FOR IMPROVED ACCURACY OF CINECORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Abstract

It has been a standard practice during selective coronary angiography to obtain multiple angulated views of the coronary vessels in a single transverse plane. These views usually provide an excellent definition of the longitudinally oriented right coronary artery and middle and distal segments of the left coronary artery. However, the proximal branches of the left coronary artery are more transversely oriented and can be parallel to the axis of the x-ray beam in this plane of rotation. This results not infrequently in superimpositions and incomplete tangential views of these segments. Therefore, stenoses in these areas can be overlooked or underestimated. We have found that these difficulties can be overcome, in most instances, by the systematic use of additional views in a sagittal plane, angulated approximately 25° either in a cranial or caudal direction or both.