Insertion of a catheter into a large artery, usually in the groin.
Guidance of the catheter to the brain's blood vessels under fluoroscopic imaging.
Injection of a contrast agent to make the blood vessels visible on X-ray images.
Capture of multiple images to assess the vascular structure and function.
Allergic reactions to the contrast agent
Blood vessel damage
Stroke
Infection
Bleeding at the catheter insertion site
Incidence and
prevalence studies of cerebrovascular abnormalities.
Identification of
risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of
interventions such as surgical procedures or medications.
Assessment of the natural history and progression of vascular diseases in the brain.
Invasiveness and associated risks may limit its use in large-scale epidemiological studies.
High cost and resource requirements.
Limited availability in low-resource settings.
Potential for selection bias, as the procedure is often reserved for symptomatic individuals.
These alternatives are useful in large-scale epidemiological studies due to their non-invasive nature and lower risk profiles.
Conclusion
Cerebral angiography is a valuable diagnostic tool in the field of epidemiology, providing detailed images of brain blood vessels. While it plays a crucial role in identifying and understanding cerebrovascular diseases, its use in epidemiological research is often limited by its invasiveness, cost, and risk factors. Non-invasive alternatives like MRA and CTA offer promising solutions for large-scale studies, aiding in the ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of cerebrovascular diseases on public health.
