Radiography: skull (basic)

i canis

Contributor(s):

Justin Goggin

Patsy Whelehan

Introduction

Radiography of the skull requires general anesthesia. This is the only way to obtain accurate projections.
A grid is necessary when patient thickness >10 cm.
The different skull shapes are treated similarly for the basic projections.
Specialised projections such as tympanic bullae require adaptation of technique based on the shape of the skull.
Radiography of the skull for fractures may be of questionable value as the presence of a fracture is considerably less significant than the presence of neurological signs. It may, however, in some cases, be of value in explaining the reason for the signs when trauma is a possibility but has not been observed.
When using non-screen film for intraoral radiography the increase in exposure required is immense. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the equipment is adequate, that the finger is not removed from the exposure button before completion of the exposure, and, most importantly, that staff do not re-enter the room before termination of the long exposure.
The objective is to produce well-positioned radiographs which are correctly exposed and developed, free from movement blur and free from artefact.
The anatomical marker, the patient's identification, the date, and the name of the hospital or practice should be clearly shown.