CINXE.COM
Pulmonary angiography: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" id="article" class="nojs us" data-root="//medlineplus.gov" itemid="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003813.htm" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalWebPage" itemscope=""> <head> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/> <meta http-equiv="window-target" content="_top"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta charset="utf-8"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1042245625821448"/> <meta name="expires" content="Wed, 05 02 2025"/> <meta name="ac-dictionary" content="medlineplus-ac-dictionary"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="//medlineplus.gov/images/touch-icon.png"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/common_new.css?04272023"/> <!--[if IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ie8/common.css"><![endif]--> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/css/uswds_styles.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ency/ency2.css?07162024"/> <script type="text/javascript">document.querySelector("html").className = document.querySelector("html").className.replace(/nojs[\s]*/g, '');</script> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds-init.min.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MMVM77');</script> <link rel="canonical" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003813.htm" itemprop="url"/> <link rel="alternative" hreflang="es" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/003813.htm"/> <link rel="alternative" hreflang="en" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003813.htm"/><meta property="og:title" content="Pulmonary angiography: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003813.htm"/><meta property="twitter:title" content="Pulmonary angiography: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="description" content="Pulmonary angiography is a test to see how blood flows through the lung. "/><meta itemprop="description" name="description" content="Pulmonary angiography is a test to see how blood flows through the lung. "/><meta property="og:description" content="Pulmonary angiography is a test to see how blood flows through the lung. "/><meta property="twitter:description" content="Pulmonary angiography is a test to see how blood flows through the lung. "/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_2.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_3.jpg"/><meta property="twitter:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/> <title>Pulmonary angiography: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia</title> </head> <body><link href="http://schema.org/Patient" itemprop="audience"/> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <noscript><iframe title="googletagmanager" src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MMVM77" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"> </iframe> </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <a name="top" id="top"> </a> <a class="hide-offscreen" href="#start">Skip navigation</a> <section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official website of the United States government"> <div class="usa-accordion"> <header class="usa-banner__header"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="grid-col-auto"> <img aria-hidden="true" class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/us_flag_small.png" alt=""/> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text"> An official website of the United States government </p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action">Here’s how you know</p> </div> <button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default-default"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span> </button> </div> </header> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default-default"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br/>A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br/>A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc> <path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"> </path> </svg> </span>) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div id="mplus-wrap"> <header> <div id="mplus-header"> <!-- Orgs ================================================== --> <div id="mplus-orgs"> <a title="National Institutes of Health" target="_blank" class="nih-org" href="//www.nih.gov/"> <img alt="National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nihlogo.png" class="nihlogo"/> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/"> National Library of Medicine </a> </div> <!-- Logo ================================================== --> <div id="mplus-logo" class="years-25"> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov"> <img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_25.png" title="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" alt="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You"/> </a> </div> <!-- Nav Menu ================================================== --> <div id="mplus-nav"> <div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">The navigation menu has been collapsed.</div> <!-- Menu Button--> <button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-menu-list" role="button" title="Menu" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-menu-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0">Menu<span class="icon icon-nav-menu"> </span></button><ul class="nav-list" id="mplus-menu-list"> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li> </ul><button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-search" role="button" title="Search" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-search-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0"><span class="hide-offscreen">Show </span>Search<span class="icon icon-nav-search"> </span></button> <div class="top-1"> <!-- Search ================================================== --> <form target="_self" title="Search MedlinePlus" action="//vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" method="get" id="mplus-search"> <input type="hidden" value="medlineplus" name="v:project"/> <input type="hidden" value="medlineplus-bundle" name="v:sources"/> <div class="form-box text-combo"> <div class="form-area"><label for="searchtext_primary" class="hide-offscreen">Search MedlinePlus</label> <span role="status" aria-live="polite" class="ui-helper-hidden-accessible"> </span><input type="text" aria-haspopup="true" aria-autocomplete="list" role="textbox" autocomplete="off" name="query" size="40" maxlength="400" title="Site Search input" alt="Site Search input" placeholder="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-text ui-autocomplete-input" id="searchtext_primary"/> </div> <div class="button-area"> <button type="submit" alt="Search MedlinePlus" title="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-btn">GO</button> </div> </div> </form> <!-- Secondary Nav ================================================== --> <div class="secondarynav"> <ul class="nav-list"> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/"><span>About MedlinePlus</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/"><span>What's New</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html"><span>Site Map</span></a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=//medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003813.htm"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <!-- Nav Bar ================================================== --> <div id="mplus-nav-bar"> <ul class="nav-list"> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li> </ul> </div> <a title="Español" id="mplus-lang-toggle" href="../../spanish/ency/article/003813.htm">Español</a> </div> </div> </header> <!-- Content ================================================== --> <div id="mplus-content"> <!-- Breadrcumbs --> <div id="breadcrumbs"><div itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList" itemscope="" itemprop="breadcrumb"><span class="hide-offscreen">You Are Here:</span> <div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a> → <meta itemprop="position" content="1"/> </div> <div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Medical Encyclopedia</span></a> → <meta itemprop="position" content="2"/> </div> </div><div><span>Pulmonary angiography</span></div></div> <span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003813.htm </span> <!-- Article --> <article><div id="d-article"><div class="page-info"><div class="page-title"><a name="start" id="start"> </a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Pulmonary angiography</h1> </div><div class="page-actions"> </div> <noscript> <span class="js-disabled-message">To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.</span> </noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Pulmonary angiography is a test to see how blood flows through the lung. </p><p>Angiography is an imaging test that uses <a test="test" href="./003337.htm">x-rays</a> and a special dye to see the insides of the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>This test is done at a hospital. You will be asked to lie on an x-ray table.</p><ul><li>Before the test starts, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.</li><li>An area of your body, most often the arm or groin, is cleaned and numbed with a local numbing medicine (anesthetic).</li><li>The radiologist inserts a needle or makes a small cut in a vein in the area that has been cleaned. A thin hollow tube called a catheter is inserted.</li><li>The catheter is placed through the vein and carefully moved up into and through the right-sided heart chambers and into the pulmonary artery, which leads to the lungs. The doctor can see live x-ray images of the area on a TV-like monitor, and use them as a guide.</li><li>Once the catheter is in place, dye is injected into the catheter. X-ray images are taken to see how the dye moves through the lungs' arteries. The dye helps detect any blockages to blood flow.</li></ul><p>Your <a test="test" href="./003399.htm">pulse</a>, blood pressure, and breathing are checked during the procedure. <a test="test" href="./003868.htm">Electrocardiogram</a> (ECG) leads are taped to your arms and legs to monitor your heart.</p><p>After the x-rays are taken, the needle and catheter are removed.</p><p>Pressure is applied to the puncture site for 20 to 45 minutes to stop the bleeding. After that time, the area is checked and a tight bandage is applied. You should keep your leg straight for 6 hours after the procedure.</p><p>Rarely, medicines are delivered to the lungs if a blood clot has been found during the procedure.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How to Prepare for the Test</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the test.</p><p>You will be asked to wear a hospital gown and sign a consent form for the procedure. Remove jewelry from the area being imaged.</p><p>Tell your health care provider:</p><ul><li>If you are pregnant</li><li>If you have ever had any allergic reactions to x-ray contrast material, shellfish, or iodine substances</li><li>If you are allergic to any medicines</li><li>Which medicines you are taking (including any herbal preparations)</li><li>If you have ever had any bleeding problems </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test will Feel</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>The x-ray table may feel cold. Ask for a blanket or pillow if you are uncomfortable. You may feel a brief sting when the numbing medicine is given and a brief, sharp, stick as the catheter is inserted.</p><p>You may feel some pressure as the catheter moves up into the lungs. The contrast dye can cause a feeling of warmth and flushing. This is normal and usually goes away in a few seconds.</p><p>You may have some tenderness and bruising at the site of the injection after the test.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Why the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>The test is most often used to detect <a test="test" href="./001124.htm">blood clots</a> (<a test="test" href="./000132.htm">pulmonary embolism</a>) and other blockages in the blood flow in the lung. Most of the time, your provider will have tried other tests to diagnose a blood clot in the lungs.</p><p>Pulmonary angiography may also be used to help diagnose:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./001090.htm">AV malformations of the lung</a></li><li>Congenital (present from birth) narrowing of the pulmonary vessels</li><li>Pulmonary artery aneurysms</li><li><a test="test" href="./000112.htm">Pulmonary hypertension</a>, high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Normal Results</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>The x-ray will show normal structures for the age of the person.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>What Abnormal Results Mean</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Abnormal results may be due to:</p><ul><li>Aneurysms of pulmonary vessels</li><li>Blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)</li><li>Narrowed blood vessel</li><li><a test="test" href="./000112.htm">Primary pulmonary hypertension</a></li><li>Tumor in the lung </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Risks</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>A person may develop an abnormal heart rhythm during this test. The health care team will monitor your heart and can treat any abnormal rhythms that develop.</p><p>Other risks include:</p><ul><li>Allergic reaction to the contrast dye</li><li>Damage to the blood vessel as the needle and catheter are inserted</li><li>Blood clot traveling to the lungs, causing an <a test="test" href="./001124.htm">embolism</a></li><li>Excessive bleeding or a blood clot where the catheter is inserted, which can reduce blood flow to the leg</li><li>Heart attack or stroke</li><li>Hematoma (a collection of blood at the site of the needle puncture)</li><li>Injury to the nerves at the puncture site</li><li>Kidney damage from the dye</li><li>Injury to blood vessels in the lung</li><li>Bleeding into the lung</li><li>Coughing up blood</li><li>Respiratory failure</li><li>Death</li></ul><p>There is low radiation exposure. Your provider will monitor and regulate the x-rays to provide the least amount of radiation exposure. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks for x-rays.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Considerations</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p><a test="test" href="./007674.htm">Computed tomography (CT) angiography</a> of the chest has largely replaced this test. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Pulmonary arteriography; Pulmonary angiogram; Angiogram of the lungs</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div name="Images" class="section-body" id="section-tnails"><ul class="img-grid group"> <li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/9796t.jpg" alt="Pulmonary arteries" title="Pulmonary arteries" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/9796.htm">Pulmonary arteries</a></li> </ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Hartman IJC, Screaton NJ. Pulmonary circulation and pulmonary thromboembolism. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. <em>Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology</em>. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 16.</p><p>Nazeef M, Sheehan JP. Venous thromboembolism. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. <em>Conn's Current Therapy 2023</em>. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:952-962.</p><p>Reekers JA. Angiography: principles, techniques and complications. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. <em>Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology</em>. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 78.</p></div></div></section> <section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 10/18/2022</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div> <div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Deepak Sudheendra, MD, MHCI, RPVI, FSIR, Founder and CEO, 360 Vascular Institute, with an expertise in Vascular Interventional Radiology & Surgical Critical Care, Columbus, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. </p> </div></div></section><section><div class="section ency-citation"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title ency-citation"><div id="citation-how-to"><button><span>Learn how to cite this page</span></button></div></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Related MedlinePlus Health Topics</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-mtp" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action"> </span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite"> </div></div><div name="Related MedlinePlus Health Topics" class="section-body" id="section-mtp"><ul class="side-nav"><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/pulmonaryhypertension.html">Pulmonary Hypertension</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/xrays.html">X-Rays</a></li> </ul></div></div></section></div></div></article> </div> <footer> <div class="provider-box group"> <div class="urac-logo"> <a href="https://accreditnet.urac.org/directory/#/certification/HCP-2/info"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/CertifiedSeal.png"/></a> <p class="urac-logo-info">Health Content Provider<br>06/01/2025</p> </div> <p class="adam-info"> <a href='javascript:urac_open();'>A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC</a>, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's <a href='javascript:hwsopen();'>accreditation program</a> is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s <a href='javascript:edpolopen();'>editorial policy, editorial process</a>, and <a href='javascript:ppopen();'>privacy policy</a>. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: <a href='javascript:honc_open();'>verify here</a>. </p> </div> <p class="adam-info"> The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only – they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997-2025 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. </p> <div class="adam-logo"> <a href="https://www.adam.com/about" target="_blank"><img width="49" height="10" alt="About A.D.A.M." src="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/ftrAdamlogo.gif"/></a> </div> <div id="mplus-footer"> <div class="footer1"> <ul class="secondarynav"> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li> <li><a name="contact" target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from="><span>Customer Support</span></a></li> </ul> <ul class="follow-footer"> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/rss.html" class="follow-item">Subscribe to RSS<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/feed.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="RSS" title="RSS"></a></li> <li><span class="follow-label">Follow us</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/medlineplus" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_twitter.png" class="follow-icon" alt="X" title="X"></a> <a href="https://facebook.com/Mplus.gov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_fb.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mplusgov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Instagram_Glyph_Gradient_RGB.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Instagram" title="Instagram"></a> </li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/social-media-toolkit/" class="social-media-toolkit-item">Social Media Toolkit<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_social_media_toolkit.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="Social Media Toolkit" title="Social Media Toolkit"></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer2"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/web_policies.html" target="_blank">NLM Web Policies</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/usingcontent/" >Copyright</a></li> <li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/criteria/">Guidelines for Links</a></li> <li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/plugins.html">Viewers & Players</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-connect/">MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs</a></li> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/developers/">For Developers</a></li> </ul> <div class="address"> <a href="//www.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Library of Medicine</a> <span>8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894</span> <a href="//www.hhs.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a> <a href="//www.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health</a> </div> <div class="return-top"><a href="#top" title="Return to top"><img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/return-top.png"></a></div> </div> </div> </footer> </div><!-- End Wrap --> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-frontend-controls.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <!--[if lte IE 9]> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery.placeholder.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <![endif]--> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-share.js?id=1112022" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/control.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds.min.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/ency/ency.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> </body> </html>