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2024-11-11

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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. (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 1 year ago by thalamus to c/science

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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.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I know someone who had a leak of CSF after getting a spinal tap, and the pain was absolutely crippling if she did anything but lie flat on her back. No medicine did anything to help. I can't even imagine how painful it must be to have the CSF removed completely.