Angiography uses x-rays and injected contrast media to demonstrate the arteries and veins in real-time  It is termed Neuro-angiogaphy when this imaging technique is applied to the vessels in the brain.

A long and tiny tube, called a catheter, is introduced into the groin artery of a patient and manipulated into the neck vessels providing blood to the brain. With the catheter in place, contrast material is then injected and multiple frames of x-ray images are taken at the same time.  The presence of contrast material highlights the blood vessels on the x-ray images as it flows along with the blood.  To see these blood vessels clearer, Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) uses computers to remove (subtract) bones and other structures so that the blood vessels stand out.

DSA is used to study the architecture of the blood vessels of the head, neck and spine, detecting and diagnosing vascular abnormalities.

It can be performed when information on the vascular architectureof the nervous system is needed and can yield valuable data in some patients with the following: .