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.

  • C4d@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    1 year ago

    Gives new meaning to the term “air head”.

    I’ll see myself out, but only after I’ve read the Wikipedia article in full. Morbid curiosity and all that.