Pathology - Skull

Question 1

A portion of bone is separated and depressed into the cranial cavity. Often star shaped (stellate), with multiple fracture lines RADIATING outward from a central point. Tangential views may be required to determine the amount of depression

Answer 1

Depressed Fracture

Question 2

Appears as a sharp lucent line that is often irregular or jagged and occasionally branches

Answer 2

Linear Skull Fracture

Question 3

Visualized in dense inner structures of the temporal bone – a finding suggestive of a basilar skull fracture is an air-fluid level in the sphenoid sinus seen on an erect or cross-table lateral projection of the skull obtained with a horizontal beam

Answer 3

Basal Fracture

Question 4

Characterized by an enlarged sella turcica

Answer 4

Pituitary Adenoma

Question 5

Mixed areas of sclerotic (dense) and lytic (lucent); cotton wool appearance – increase technique if in advanced sclerotic stage

Answer 5

Paget’s Disease