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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Fluoroscopy and Angiography?

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Fluoroscopy and angiography are both medical imaging techniques that use X-rays to create images, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features.

Fluoroscopy:

  • Generates live images of different body parts, including the digestive, urinary, cardiovascular, respiratory, and reproductive systems.
  • Useful for real-time monitoring of various body parts and their functions.
  • Provides video-like images, as opposed to standard X-rays, which are like photographs.

Angiography:

  • Visualizes the interior of blood vessels, focusing on diagnosing diseases related to blood vessels, especially when studying blocked, damaged, or abnormal blood vessels.
  • Essentially a fluoroscopy unit with advanced features required for vascular and other interventional procedures.
  • Features an X-ray source and detectors mounted on a C-arm apparatus, allowing for movement of the source and detector around the patient.
  • Can be used for interventional radiology procedures, where catheters, guidewires, stents, feeding tubes, etc., are visualized with the C-arm fluoroscopy.

In summary, fluoroscopy is a medical imaging technique that generates live images for real-time monitoring of various body parts and their functions, while angiography is an imaging technique specifically designed to visualize the interior of blood vessels for diagnosing diseases related to blood vessels.

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  • What is the Difference Between Fluoroscopy and Angiography?
  • Comparative Table: Fluoroscopy vs Angiography

    • Comparative Table: Fluoroscopy vs Angiography

    Here is a table comparing the differences between fluoroscopy and angiography:

    Feature Fluoroscopy Angiography
    Definition Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that generates live images of different body parts using an X-ray beam. Angiography is an imaging technique that visualizes the interior of blood vessels.
    Purpose Fluoroscopy is useful for real-time monitoring of various body systems, such as digestive, urinary, cardiovascular, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Angiography is useful for diagnosing diseases related to blood vessels, especially when studying blocked, damaged, or abnormal blood vessels.
    Imaging Technique Fluoroscopy creates a series of images in video form, using a continuous X-ray beam. Angiography involves the injection of contrast material into the arteries to produce high-quality images.
    Machine A fluoroscope is used to generate the images. Angiography machines are fluoroscopy units with added features, such as an X-ray source and detectors mounted on a C-arm apparatus.
    Applications Fluoroscopy is used in various types of imaging, such as upper gastrointestinal tract radiography, hysterosalpingography, and myelography. Angiography is used in the diagnosis of arterial pathology, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and other related fields.
    Radiation Risk Fluoroscopy carries a slightly higher risk of radiation-related risks due to its serial X-ray exposure. Both fluoroscopy and angiography use X-rays, but angiography requires contrast agents, which may pose additional risks.

    In summary, fluoroscopy generates live images of various body parts and is useful for real-time monitoring, while angiography visualizes the interior of blood vessels to diagnose related diseases.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.