In a method to implement digital subtraction angiography, an image of structures (in particular vessels) of a body region is generated by subtraction of image data of a first 2D x-ray image, that is created without enrichment of the structures with contrast agent, from image data of a second 2D x-ray image of the body region that is acquired with contrast agent enrichment of the structures. The image data of the first 2D x-ray image are calculated from a 3D volume dataset of the body region. The x-ray dose applied in the subtraction angiography thus can be reduced.