Coronary angiography: a decade of advances

Coronary angiography remains the definitive diagnostic technique for determining appropriate therapy of obstructive coronary artery disease, as well as for assessing the therapeutic results of surgery, angioplasty or thrombolytic therapy. Technologic improvements over the last 5 to 10 years have significantly enhanced both the diagnostic quality and the safety of coronary angiography. Among these improvements are the use of double-angulated vessel views, digital enhancement and postprocessing maneuvers and the use of low-osmolality contrast media. Newer noninvasive imaging techniques, such as cine-computered tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and digital echocardiography continue to play a very limited role in establishing the pathoanatomy of the coronary circulation.