venography

Radiographic demonstration of a vein, after the injection of contrast medium. SYN: phlebography (2). [veno- + G. grapho, to write]

- splenic portal v. SYN: splenoportography.

- transosseous v. radiographic demonstration of veins that drain a bone's marrow, by injection of contrast medium into the marrow at an appropriate point, as in vertebral v. or azygography by rib injection.

- vertebral v. radiographic demonstration of the epidural venous plexus by injection of contrast medium into the spinous process.

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ve·nog·ra·phy vi-'näg-rə-fē, vā- n, pl -phies radiography of a vein after injection of an opaque substance

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n.

imaging of the anatomy of veins in a particular region of the body. Traditionally a radiopaque contrast medium is injected into a vein and X-ray photographs (venograms) taken as the medium flows towards the heart. Damage, obstruction, or abnormal communication with other vessels can be demonstrated. A common usage is in demonstrating deep vein thrombosis in the legs. Increasingly ultrasound is now used, both with colour Doppler ultrasound and compression venography. See also angiography.

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ve·nog·ra·phy (ve-nogґrə-fe) phlebography (def. 1).