Digital intraarterial subtraction technique of the extracerebral vascular system.

We report the results from intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA DSA) of the extracerebral vessels with aortic arch injection of contrast medium via femoro-arterial puncture, instead of the more widely used intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV DSA). Intraarterial DSA is performed using a lower contrast dose and rate, making this study less invasive and costly than the conventional arteriographic study of the aortic arch. Intraarterial DSA provides better resolution than IV DSA. The diagnostic accuracy is almost equivalent to conventional angiography and is largely superior to photographic subtraction angiography with intravenous injection of contrast media.