Abstract
Cerebral angiography was introduced in 1927 by Egas Moniz, a Portuguese neurologist, as a method for evaluat- ing the cerebral vasculature. Over the course of time, the introduction of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) resulted in decreased use of cerebral angiography in the diagnostic evaluation of many neurological conditions. Nevertheless, and in spite of the proliferation of noninvasive diagnostic techniques, there are still many reasons why cerebral angiography is not only indicated but is an integral part of the care of some patients. Furthermore, promising therapeutic tech- niques (i.e., thrombolysis, percutaneous transluminal an- gioplasty (PTA), detachable coils and balloons, and a variety of embolizing agents), whose application requires the performance of cerebral angiography, are currently the focus of intense investigation. TM This conjecture of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities has had two impor- tant consequences: it has resulted in the sprouting of a subspecialty that is now known as interventional neurora- diology, is,a6 and it has also rekindled the interest of some neurologists and neurosurgeons to be more personally involved in the application of these procedures97,a8 The latter has led to the creation of alternative names for that field, such as endovascular neurosurgery 19 and interven- tional neurology. 18 At the same time, advances in diagnostic technology have continued to be introduced in the mature field of coronary angiography and interventional cardiac catheter- ization. Indeed, a more physiological approach to the invasive assessment of coronary atheromatous plaques has resulted in the increasing application of nonangio- graphic invasive techniques to the selection of patients for coronary angioplasty, stenting, or other forms of revascu- larization. 2~ Considering that the functional information
Published Version
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