Cardiac catheterization is a broad procedure where a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart. It’s used for both diagnosis and treatment of various heart conditions, including measuring pressures, taking biopsies, and performing interventions like angioplasty.

Coronary angiography is a specific type of cardiac catheterization focused on visualizing the coronary arteries. During angiography, a contrast dye is injected through the catheter, and X-rays are taken to identify blockages or narrowing in these arteries. It’s primarily a diagnostic tool for coronary artery disease and often precedes treatments like stenting.