[Indications for intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in vascular disease]

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), using a direct arterial route, diminishes the risk of the examination by reducing the contrast dose by about 75%, making the examination more rapid and making it less likely that catheters will have to be changed. At the same time superimposition is avoided, one of the advantages of selective catheterisation. In view of the low contrast dose, it is possible to carry out several examinations at one time and to use additional projections for intracranial and peripheral disease, thereby improving the diagnostic value of the examination. For certain problems, intra-arterial DSA is already able to replace conventional angiography. The small field size and poor spatial resolution still make conventional angiography necessary as the basic form of investigation in most other circumstances.