Skull and Spine Radiology

How to radiograph the skull or spine of small animals?

- Anesthesia/heavy sedation required

- accurate positioning is essential

- Lateral, VD/DV, obliques,rostrocaudal

• Vertical beam

• Understand the way tomake images

How to radiograph the skull or spine of large animals?

- Sedation necessary

- done standing (rarely recumbent)

- Lateral, DV, obliques

• Horizontal Beam (mostly)

- Overhead tube

- Portable generator

• Understand the way to make images

SM Animal- Lateral Image

• Patient in lateral recumbency

• Marker to indicate laterality of patient

SM Animal Skull- VD image

• Patient in dorsal recumbency

• Markers to indicate laterality

SM Animal Skull- Open mouth VD image

• Patient in dorsal recumbency

• Mouth open

• Tube angled toward nose

• Markers to indicate laterality

SM Animal Skull - Intraoral DV image

• Patient internal recumbency

• Plate in mouth - May not be possible with digital plates

• Markers to indicate laterality

SM Animal Skull - Rostrocaudal image

• Patient in dorsal recumbency

• Nose pointed at tube

• Markers to indicate laterality

• Specifically for frontal sinuses

SM Animal Skull- Rostrocaudal image (tympanic bullae)

• Patient in dorsal recumbency

• Nose pointed at tube, slightly angled

• Markers to indicate laterality

• Similar view can be made with mouth open

SM Animal Skull - DV Oblique image

• Patient in lateral recumbency

• Obliqued (rolled) to offset sides

• Markers to indicate laterality

- Marker closest to anatomy indicates the side

• Maxilla or mandible

SM Animal Skull - Rostrocaudal Oblique image

• Patient in lateral recumbency

• Nose elevated

• Patient rolled DV slightly

• Markers indicate anatomy that is closest

• Tympanic bulla or TMJRL

LG Animal Skull - DV image

• Tube dorsal, plate ventral

• Marker to indicate laterality

LG Animal Skull - Lateral image

• Tube on one side, plate on the other

• Marker to indicate laterality closest to plate

LG Animal Skull - DV Oblique image

• Tube on one side, plate on the other

• Tube angled in DV plane, plate held perpendicular

• Markers indicate anatomy that is closest

• Maxillary or mandibular structures

When to image

• Trauma• Masses/swelling

• Otic disease

• Tooth disease

• TMJ disease

• Nasal and paranasal sinus disease - EQ

• Neurologic signs localized to the brain or cervical spine

Canine Skull

Canine Skull

Equine Skull

Equine Skull

Equine skull

SM Animal Spine- Lateral Image

• Patient in lateral recumbency

• Center on region of interest - Cervical - CT junction

• Marker to indicate the laterality of patient

SM Animal Spine - VD image

• Patient in dorsal recumbency

• Centered on area of interest

• Angle beam toward thorax to image through caudal discspaces*

• Marker to indicate laterality of patient*

SM Animal Spine - VD Oblique images

• Patient in dorsal recumbency, tipped right or left

• Center on the area of interest

• Marker to indicate laterality of patient

• Only rarely used as needed

LG Animal Spine - Lateral image

• Patient usually standing

• Marker to indicate laterality of patient

LG Animal Spine - DV/VD image

• Only in smaller patients due to size

• Patient standing or under GA in sternal or dorsal recumbency

• Marker to indicate laterality of patient

LG Animal Spine - DV Oblique image

• Patient usually standing

• Generator angled in DV plane

• Markers indicate anatomy that is closest

• Cervical spine only - EQ

SM Animal Spine Lateral

SM Animal Spine VD

Equine Spine Lateral

Llama Spine Lateral

Bovine Spine Lateral