Small Animal Skull Radiography

This flashcard covers key concepts related to the challenges faced in small animal skull radiography.

which technique is used for skull radiography

high mA low kVp

Survey Measure

zygomatic arch at center of craniums

survey borders 

lateral canthus of eye, midway between eye and ear s

survey borders

full skull - tip of nose to occipital protuberance

TMU

temporal mandibular unit

TMU measure 

zygomatic arch over the joint

TMU center

rostral to ears

TMU borders

cranial and caudal to the joint

Tympanic Bullae 

the bony structures surrounding the middle ear in small animals, important for assessing ear pathologies in radiographs.

Tympanic Bullae measure

zygomatic arch over bullae

tympanic bullae center

base of the ear

tympanic bullae borders 

cranial and caudal to the ear 

nares/teeth measure

zygomatic arch rostral to medial canthi

nares/teeth center

rostral to lateral canthus

nares/teeth borders 

tip of nose to lateral canthi 

DV survey measure 

highest point of the cranium just caudal to the lateral canthi and the zygomatic arches

DV survey center

between the two lateral canthi of the eyes on the sagittal crest

DV survey borders

tip of nose to the occipital protuberance

VD survey measure 

highest point of the cranium just caudal to the lateral canthi 

VD survey center

between the two lateral canthi of the eyes on the sagittal crest

VD survey borders

tip of nose to the occipital protuberance

would you choose VD or DV for a deep chested dog

VD

would you choose DV or VD for brachycephalic breeds

DV

Purpose of VD open mouth view

images nasal sinus and ethmoid regions without the mandible being superimposed

can a VD open mouth view be taken if the x ray tube CANNOT be moved/rotated 

no 

true or false

a VD closed mouth view is better for brachycephalic breeds

true

true or false

kVp needs to be decreased for VD open mouth views

true

VD open mouth measure 

thickest area near commissure of the lip 

VD open mouth center

nasal cavity

VD open mouth borders

tip of maxilla to the pharyngeal region

Rostrocaudal closed mouth view purpose 

view the foramen magnum, cranial vault, calvarium, and sagittal crest 

dorsal or ventral recumbency for rostrocaudal closed mouth view

dorsal

rostrocaudal closed mouth measure

at the frontal sinuses

rostrocaudal closed mouth center 

midway between the eyes so that the cranium is centered and the beam intersects the bridge of the nose 

rostrocaudal closed mouth view borders

entire cranium

can you take a rostrocaudal open mouth view on a cat

no

rostrocaudal open mouth view purpose

used to visualize tympanic bullae, base of the skull, and the odontoid process

what is another name for rostrocaudal open mouth view also known as

basilar view

rostrocaudal open mouth measure 

commissure of the lips 

rostrocaudal open mouth center

commissure of the mouth just dorsal to the tongue from a stroventral direction

rostrocaudal open mouth borders

entire nasopharyngeal region of the cranium

is the tympanic bullae more caudal or cranial in a cat 

caudal 

which view is known as the skyline view

rostrocaudal frontal sinus view

purpose of rostrocaudal frontal sinus view

images the frontal sinuses, zygomatic bone, and orbits

Rostrocaudal frontal sinus measure 

over the nasal sinuses 

rostrocaudal frontal sinus center

between the eyes

rostrocaudal frontal sinus borders

occipital crest to the dorsal aspect of the nasal planum