Cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography: Current status and limitations

Abstract

Cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography has revolutionized the evaluation of cardiac anatomy and physiology over the past three decades. In an age of advanced noninvasive cardiac imaging, selective coronary angiography remains the gold standard for defining cardiac anatomy. In addition to defining the site, severity, and morphology of coronary lesions, cardiac catheterization provides the most accurate quantitative assessment of cardiac structure and hemodynamics. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.