The importance of temperature in angiography of the hand.

Angiograms of the hand of a normal volunteer taken at skin temperatures ranging from 22 to 33 degrees C revealed that visualization of the arteries was highly dependent on the temperature. Lower temperatures produced vasospasm beginning in the smaller vessels and proportionally involving medium-sized and major arteries. Moderate warming led to optimum filling and is recommended prior to angiography of the hand. Prior injection of contrast material caused no perceptible change in the filling or appearance of the arteries.