From the beginning of the era of X-rays, cardiac radiology has become a target of this new technique. Early pioneers, Ciegem, Rieder, Rosenthal, Williams rapidly accumulated extensive experience with fluoroscopy and radiography and publications on cardiac diseases as soon as 1899 and 1901 and 1902. The next step in cardiac diagnosis was achieved by Forsmann in 1929, with the first attempt at cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. Many clinicians, Moniz, Reboul, Rousthoi contributed to the development of the technique between 1930 and 1940. A further turning point came in 1941 when Cournand demonstrated that cardiac catheterization was a safe method in man. In the technical field major progress came from Scandinavia were rapid filming was born. The management of ischaemic disease, changed dramatically with the demonstration of coronary anatomy, largely due to Sones, Judkins and Amplatz. A further progress was initiated in 1977 by Gruentzig who invented balloon angioplasty.