Introduction to coronary arteriography.

Coronary arteriography is the most reliable means of investigating and quantitating the severity of coronary artery occlusive disease. Although the procedure is no longer performed exclusively by radiologists, their input into its interpretation is valued. Furthermore, current and future advances in nonangiographic means of demonstrating coronary artery morphology, including magnetic resonance angiography, reinforce the need for radiologists to remain familiar with techniques for the performance of coronary arteriography, the basic anatomy of the coronary artery tree, and patterns of congenital and acquired coronary artery disease.