Cardiac digital subtraction angiography - Future directions

Since its commercial introduction in 1980, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has been applied in an increasing number of clinical areas. Early enthusiasm was centered around applications involving intravenous injection of iodine. While these applications remain important in specific circumstances, the technique is being used for an increasing number of intraarterial studies. In the area of cardiac imaging intravenous techniques have been successful for applications such as ventriculography. Early attempts at studying coronary arteries and bypass grafts, however, have been inadequate. Although several research groups are continuing to attempt to develop satisfactory intravenous angiographic techniques, the problems involved are far more difficult than in areas outside the heart. The author does not attempt to mention all of the clinical DSA techniques under study for cardiac applications. His remarks focus on some of the most significant technical problems involved in the imaging and data analysis and he suggests some potential directions for future improvement of cardiac DSA techniques