Catheters in vascular interventional radiology: an illustrated review.

The past five decades have seen significant developments in the knowledge and practice of interventional radiology. Advancements in angiographic equipment have made interventional radiology a safe, minimally invasive preferred option in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Today, a range of catheters are available in the armamentarium of the interventional radiologist to suit different needs when conducting diagnostic angiograms or performing interventions in various vascular territories. The hardware required for interventions includes needles, wires, catheters, balloons, and stents. Catheters, in particular, are an invaluable tool for interventionists. The purpose of this review is to describe the identification characteristics, properties, and uses of the common angiographic catheters used in interventional radiology, with a special focus on peripheral vascular interventions (excluding neurointerventions).