TIL before CT and MRI’s were available, doctors used to replace the fluid in and around the brain with air to do imaging with X-rays. - eviltoast
Pneumoencephalography - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/1779005

Apparently this was done because air captures less X-rays than CSF and thus creates more contrast with brain tissue compared to the cerebrospinal fluid.

Unfortunately this was pretty painful and uncomfortable.

  • Matt Shatt@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    1 year ago

    Well that just sounds awful. What’s not clear is how CSF gets back in there. Do they replace it or let the body figure it out on its own?

    • Thalamus@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      5·
      1 year ago

      Not sure to be honest but i’m guessing that enough would be left and that the air would resorb and new CSF would be made in the ventricles.