Walter Edward Dandy

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Walter Edward Dandy

1886-1946

American neurosurgeon known for his contributions to neurosurgery. He pioneered successful operations for Ménière's disease, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, intracranial aneurysm, and various tumors of the central nervous system. In 1918 he invented pneumography, a diagnostic procedure whereby x rays are taken after air is injected into the cerebral ventricles (ventriculography). The following year he modified this procedure by injecting air through a lumbar puncture needle (pneumoencephalography). This was more dangerous, and ventriculography was preferred.