Coronary Angiography (CAG)

Coronary angiography is a test that uses X-rays to look at the heart's blood vessels, called the coronary arteries. It's usually done to see if a blood vessel is narrowed or blocked. A coronary angiogram is most often used to diagnose coronary artery disease.

A coronary angiogram is part of a general group of heart tests and treatments called cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization uses one or more thin, flexible tubes, called catheters. The tubes are placed within the major blood vessels of the body and the heart.

Your healthcare team may suggest a coronary angiogram if you have:

• Heart attack
• Chest pain, called angina.
• Pain in the chest, jaw, neck or arm that can't be explained by other tests.
• Blood vessel problems.
• A heart problem you were born with, called a congenital heart defect.
• Irregular results on an exercise stress test.
• Chest injury.
• Heart valve disease that needs surgery.