Radiology 12 - Extra-Oral Views Flashcards
What are the most common extra-oral views?
Images relating to mandible: postero-anterior mandible, lateral oblique of mandible, DPT.
Images relating to maxilla and cranium: lateral cephalogram, occipito-mental views (0, 10, 30 degrees), sailography.
What do these acronyms stand for: AP, PA, OM?
Antero-posterior, postero-anterior (SPECIFY IT DOES NOT MEAN PERIAPICAL), occipito-mental.
What are the positioning landmarks used to help position a patient for extraoral radiography?
Radiographic base line: line from outer canthus of eye to EAM, represents base of skull.
Frankfort plane/ anthropological baseline: line from inferior orbital margin to upper border of EAM. USED FOR DPT.
Maxillary occlusal plane: line from ala of nose to tragus of ear. USED IN CONE BEAM CT.
(see slide 9)
What equipment do you need for extra-oral radiographs?
Skull unit (ex. satella) or cephalometric unit
High intensity/ highly penetrating beam
Image receptor (cassette with intensifying screens and film or digital system PSP cassette containing phosphor plate), anti-scatter grid.
What is Compton scattering?
When weaker x-ray photons are deviated off track as they do not possess enough radiation to pass all the way through to the receptor and make a useful interaction.
What can scattering cause?
Causes background fog (aka degrade the image), creating a greyer film which lacks contrast.
Why do we use an anti-scatter grid? What is it made of?
To stops photons scattered in the patient from reaching the film and hence prevent the degradation of the film. ONLY STRAIGHT HIGH E PHOTONS CAN PASS.
Made of alternating strips of lead and plastic. Can be fixed/ stationary (may be able to see it in final image) or moving/ oscillating (cant see on final image).
What do you need to consider when positioning a patient for EO radiography?
- Position of patient relative to film (facial views radiographic baseline 45 degrees, median sagittal line 90 degrees to film - skull radiography requires radiographic baseline to be 90 deg to film)
- Position of x-ray beam relative to patient (AP, PA, lateral).
- Position of x-ray beam relative to film (ex OM view at 10 deg to see orbits and at 30 deg to see zygomatic arches ad maxillae).
What are the indications/ why is a PA mandible useful?
Shows fracture of mandible (ex. mediolateral displacement at fracture site).
Also useful for cysts and malignancy causing expansion of bone destruction.
What structures can you see clearly in a PA mandible? Which ones not so much?
Can see posterior body of mandible and ramus clearly. Limited visualization of the condylar head and neck + midline obscured by spine.
What other view is a PA commonly requested with?
A DPT.
What are the benefits of taking a mandible film PA?
- reduces the magnification of the facial features on the receptor
- reduces dose to eyes (lens of eye is radiosensitive).
What is the correct patient positioning for a PA film?
- Patient faces film
- Nose and forehead touch film holder –> MAKES RADIOGRAPHIC BASE LINE HORIZONTAL/ 90 DEGREES TO THE FILM. (can tell this as mandible will appear long in radiograph - slide 31)
- Aim centre of beam to midline of patient at the height of mid ramus.
(see slide 29).
How do we find the midline of the patient?
Front: between the eyes (tip of nose unreliable as often deviates)
Back: external occipital protuberance.
Why do we need to have lateral OBLIQUE mandible?
(usually in radiography we do an AP or a PA and a lateral so that they are at 90 degrees)
Solely lateral image would superimpose the mandible. Must oblique mandible both in HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL PLANES. Will only receive useful information from side closest to receptor.