Angiographic projections and optimal visualisation of left and right coronary artery segments
| Coronary artery segment | LAO 40–50°, caudal 25–40° (spider) | AP/RAO 5–15°, caudal 30° | RAO 30–45°, caudal 30–40° | AP/RAO 5–10°, cranial 35–45° | LAO 30–45°, cranial 25–35° | Lateral ± caudocranial 10–30° | LAO 45–60° | RAO 30–45° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – View not recommended; + occasionally useful; ++ very useful; +++ ideal view. | ||||||||
| AP, anteroposterior; LAD, left anterior descending; LAO, left anterior oblique; LCX, left circumflex; LIMA, left internal mammary; OM, obtuse marginal; PDA, posterior descending artery; PLV, posterior left ventricular; RAO, right anterior oblique; RCA, right coronary artery. | ||||||||
| LM ostium | ++ | + | + | +++ | +++ | – | – | – |
| LM bifurcation | +++ | +++ | ++ | – | – | – | – | – |
| LAD proximal | ++ | ++ | +++ | ++ | ++ | + | – | – |
| LAD mid | – | + | + | +++ | ++ | ++ | – | – |
| LAD distal | + | + | +++ | + | – | +++ | – | ++ |
| LAD/diagonal | ++ | + | – | ++ | +++ | – | – | – |
| LCX proximal | + | +++ | +++ | – | – | – | – | – |
| LCX distal | + | + | ++ | +++ | ++ | + | ++ | – |
| OM bifurcation | ++ | +++ | ++ | – | – | – | + | – |
| RCA proximal | – | – | – | + | +++ | – | ++ | – |
| RCA mid | – | – | – | – | + | +++ | ++ | +++ |
| RCA distal/crux | – | – | – | +++ | +++ | – | ++ | – |
| PDA | – | – | – | +++ | ++ | – | + | ++ |
| PLV | + | – | – | +++ | ++ | + | + | – |
| LIMA anastomosis | + | – | – | – | – | +++ | – | – |