Experimental observations concerning cerebral angiography.

Abstract

AN UNUSUAL opportunity for studying the intracranial and extracranial circulations simultaneously was afforded by a perfusion method of angiography in the cat, using the vertex-base x-ray projection. By this technique the entire circle of Willis, as well as its main afferent and efferent branches, could be visualized roentgenographically together with much of the extracranial carotid system. It was thus possible to make certain observations of general interest concerning the cerebral circulation and of particular interest in regard to some etiologic factors concerned with neurologic sequelae of carotid angiography. The technique of photomicrography was also utilized in order to include pial arteries in this study. METHODS Carotid Angiography. —A total of 220 angiographic studies were performed on 14 cats, with 10% colloidal suspension of thorium dioxide (Thorotrast) used as the contrast medium in all but 2 experiments, in which 35% iodopyracet (Diodrast) was employed. The common carotid artery was cannulated with