X-ray - head; X-ray - skull; Skull radiography; Head x-ray
A skull x-ray is a picture of the bones surrounding the brain, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses.
See also: Sinus x-ray
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care providerâ ' s office by an x-ray technician. You will be asked to lie on the x-ray table or sit in a chair. Your head may be placed in a number of positions.
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry.
Generally, there is little or no discomfort during an x-ray. If there is a head injury, positioning the head may be uncomfortable.
Your doctor may order this test if you you have injured your skull or you have symptoms or signs of a structural problem inside the skull (such as a tumor or bleeding).
A skull x-ray is also used to evaluate an unusually shaped child's head.
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include the following:
Stevens JM. Cranial and intracranial disease: trauma, cerebrospinal fluid disturbances, degenerative disorders and epilepsy. In: Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 5.