Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: development, technique, and application.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is one of the most exciting developments in the field of interventional radiology. In this procedure an angiographic catheter with an inflatable balloon is used to reopen the lumen of an artery that was previously obstructed due to plaque formation. This article describes the historical development of PTA, the technique involved in catheter angioplasty, and its application in certain disease states.