Radiographic Anatomy of Facial Bones and Mandible with Radiological Abnormalities of the Skull and Facial Bones

Radiographic Anatomy of Facial Bones

Postero-Anterior Caldwell View

Occipito Mental (OM) (Waters) View

Postero-Anterior 30° (Modified Parietocanthial)

Occipito Mental 30° (OM30) View

Submentovertex (SMV) / Slit Basal / Jughandles View

Adult Facial Bones - Lateral View

Slit Townes View

Abnormalities of the Skull and Facial Bones
Cause	Radiological Features
Enlargement of Skull Vault
Children
Hydrocephalus	Sutural  diastasis, increased convoluted markings, “copper beaten skull”
Raised intra cranial pressure	Bulging of fontanelle in infancy.
Adults
Acromegaly	Enlarged frontal sinuses and mandible, erosion and enlargement of sella turcica
Paget’s disease	Thickened skull vault, increased density of vault and facial bones.
Increased Density
Localised
Hyperostosis frontalis	Symmetrical thickening of the inner table of skull vault, usually in women, of no significance.
Meningioma	Area of  localised sclerosis, possible enlarged groove of feeding artery.
Fibrous displasia	Asymmetrical, affecting the facial bones maxilla and base of skull.
Generalised
Paget’s disease	Irregular sclerosis with thickened vault.
Secondary deposits. e.g. prostate & breast	Irregular sclerosis, thickened vault.
Lytic lesions
Childhood
Secondary deposits, neuroblastoma, leukaemi	Variable appearances,  Sutural deposits may mimic sutural diastasis.
Eosinic granuloma, Histiocytosis X	Transradient defect with bevelled edges.
Adults
Myelomatosis	Rounded translucent (2-10mm) multiple ‘holes’
Secondary deposits	Generally ill defined translucent patches.
Hyperparathyroidism	Mottled appearance of ‘pepper pot’ skull.
Paget’s	Sharply defined zones affecting large areas of the vault.

Radiographic Anatomy of Mandible

Mandible - Postero-Anterior View

Mandible - Oblique View

Mandible – Lateral View

Orthopantogram (OPG)

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