Our experience with digital subtraction angiography

A survey is presented of experience gained during three years of examinations with digital subtraction angiography. New technical possibilities of processing the X-ray image allowing to image the blood flow bed with unprecedented resulting contrast of the respective arterial part. The method is used in cardiovascular examinations for preoperative diagnosis, in intervention radiology, for checkups after vascular reconstructions and for the diagnosis of malformations and tumors. The advantages of the method are in that a smaller amount of contrast medium is required than for classical arteriography, a 10 to 20 times lower radiation dose, the examination is cheaper, quicker, may be carried out in outpatient departments and the obtained image is immediately available and may futher be processed. The disadvantage is a poorer imaging of details, a smaller imaged area and the dependence of image quality on the blood circulation velocity in the patient. (M.D.). 13 refs., 9 figs