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Glite Dictionary
pneumoencephalogram

pneumoencephalogram

9.9
An X-ray of the brain made after replacing some fluid around it with gas to see details
  • noun
  • /njuːmoʊˌɛnˈsɛfəloʊˌgræm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pneumoencefalograma
  • The doctor explained that a pneumoencephalogram can help identify abnormalities in the brain.

Examples

  • The technician prepared the patient for a pneumoencephalogram to ensure clear imaging of the brain.

  • A pneumoencephalogram, I would think, to pin down that lesion.

    The Exorcist (1973)

  • After the procedure, the pneumoencephalogram revealed significant changes in the brain structure.

Synonyms

encephalogram
vspneumoencephalogram
  • Archaic
9.9

An X-ray picture of the brain made by replacing the fluid around the spine with gas to show detail

refers to the same image but specifies using oxygen and partial fluid replacement
encephalography
vspneumoencephalogram
  • Archaic
9.9

A way of taking X-ray pictures of the brain after replacing the fluid around the spine with gas

is the specific imaging result rather than the overall imaging procedure

Surface Forms

pneumoencephalogram singular
pneumoencephalograms plural

Morphology

pneumoencephalogram = encephalogram (opaque) = pneumo + encephalo + gram

The meaning is not transparent to general English learners, as it requires specialized medical knowledge of the combining forms.

Etymology

Pneumoencephalogram breaks into pneumo ('air'), encephalo ('brain'), and -gram ('a record' or 'picture'), like in telegram. So a pneumoencephalogram is literally a 'picture of the brain made with air', which fits the old X-ray test that used gas to make the brain show up more clearly.