Skull Radiographic Views & Anatomy

Question 1

Types of skull radiographs

Answer 1

• occipitomental
• postero-anterior mandible
• true lateral skull

Question 1

What is skull radiographs?

Answer 1

• groups of plain radiographs used primarily for assessing maxillofacial trauma
  -used to assess disease of skull but replaced by CT now

Question 2

Occipitomental view

Answer 2

• for fractures of midface (middle third)
• show facial skeleton, avoiding superimposition of skull base
• can get at different angles

Question 3

Postero-anterior mandible

Answer 3

• fractures of posterior mandible, excluding condyles

Question 4

Reverse Towne’s

Answer 4

• fractures of mandibular condyles

Question 5

Orbitomeatal line

Answer 5

• reference line used in patient positioning for most skull radiographs
• “radiographic baseline”

Landmarks
- outer canthus of eye
- centre of external auditory meatus

Question 6

Indications of OM radiographs

Answer 6

1. Middle third fractures
   - Le Fort 1, 2, 3
   - Zygomatic complex
   - Naso-ethmoidal complex
   - Orbital blow- out
2. Coronoid process fractures

Question 7

Positioning of OM

Answer 7

• face towards receptor
• head tipped back so orbitomeatal line is at 45 degrees to receptor