The Vascular Center offers a variety of non-invasive and minimally-invasive tests to diagnose problems with the blood vessels.
Arteriogram
The doctor will insert an intravenous (IV) line into a blood vessel in your arm, groin, neck or chest. A thin, hollow tube (catheter) is then inserted into the IV line and guided to the area of concern.
A contrasting agent - usually water, saline, iodine or another substance - is injected into the blood vessel to make it show up on X-ray.
CT scan
During this less-invasive procedure X-rays are taken from different angles to create cross-sectional images. The images are assembled by computer into a three-dimensional image.
MRI angiography
Also called a magnetic resonance angiogram, or MRA, an MRI Angiogram uses radiofrequency waves, a magnetic field and computers instead of X-rays to produce images of the blood vessels.
Doppler ultrasound
Measures how sound waves reflect off the blood vessels and the blood moving within them. A transducer that emits and picks up sound waves is moved over the skin in the area of concern, producing images on a computer screen. While conventional ultrasound shows the blood vessels, the Doppler ultrasound shows blood movement within the vessels.
