helpsimple searchclear selectionselect all
Dictionary assisted search
All words
Any word/input
Exact phrase
in these
lexical topics:
  • Physics, Techniques and Procedures
  • Normal Anatomy
  • Musculoskeletal Imaging
  • Breast Imaging
  • Gastrointestinal Imaging
  • Urogenital Imaging
  • Chest Imaging
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Neuroradiology
  • Head and Neck Imaging
  • Paediatric Imaging
 
 
 
Neuroradiology

Pneumoencephalography

an invasive technique used previously to diagnose intracranial lesions.

First proposed by Dandy, a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore in 1919, as an improvement on, or a refinement of, air ventriculography that he had introduced in 1918 , the technique was dismissed worldwide within a few years after the introduction in 1972 of noninvasive CT by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield.

Pneumoencephalography consists of replacing part of the intracranial CSF (about 30 cc) by air, thus creating an artificial "contrast" within the skull detectable as radiolucency of the ventricles and CSF spaces on the X-ray films.

Air was introduced through a lumbar puncture and manipulated within the head by changing the position of the patient, who was secured to a rotating chair that could manoeuvre isocentrically into a variety of positions (brow up, brow down, etc.) (Fig.1).

Interpretation of the images consisted in verifying the size, shape and position of ventricles and subarachnoid spaces and their distortion by lesions, usually tumours.

Tomography was applied to enhance the capability of the diagnostic modality that was not only invasive but unpleasant for the patients. Also, see air encephalography.

GS

To view high resolution images,
please register first.

Click  here to register.

Already registered? Enter your e-mail in the window below.
Re-register

Fig.1

Midline sagittal tomogram, in the sitting position. Radiolucent air is seen in the upper cervical subarachnoid space, outlining the spinal cord, in the cisterna magna, superior vermian cistern, prepontine, interpeduncular, suprasellar cistern, quadrigeminal cistern, third ventricle and lateral ventricles.
Pneumoencephalography, Fig.1