Monday, December 12, 2011

Old Timer

Challenge: Why does this patient have what looks like ping pong balls in his lungs? By the way, he got this treatment in the 1940s.

Image shown under Fair Use.

2 comments:

jbwpac said...

Older Methods of Treating TB
Plombage Therapy
“Ping-Pong Ball Plombage

Craig said...

yes!! pretty crazy, the things they used to do...
-
Old Timer

This is plombage, done for tuberculosis prior to antibiotic treatment. This refers to placement of an inert object, here - lucite balls - against the lung to collapse the underlying cavity.

Source: ConsultantLive.com; LearningRadiology.com.