Here's a breakdown of the word:
* Angio- refers to blood vessels.
* -scopy refers to the process of looking or examining.
Therefore, angioscopy literally means "looking into blood vessels."
Angioscopy is used to:
* Diagnose vascular diseases: It can help identify blockages, narrowing, or other abnormalities in blood vessels.
* Guide treatment: It can be used to guide procedures like angioplasty (widening of a narrowed blood vessel) or stent placement.
* Monitor treatment outcomes: It allows doctors to see how well treatments have worked and to identify any complications.
Types of Angioscopy:
* Peripheral angioscopy: Used to examine blood vessels in the legs and arms.
* Coronary angioscopy: Used to examine blood vessels in the heart.
* Cerebral angioscopy: Used to examine blood vessels in the brain.
Note: Angioscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning it involves only small incisions.