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Skull X-ray
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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The skull and spine reliably protect the brain and spinal cord from external influences, so injuries to the skull and spine are often combined with brain damage. At the same time, many diseases of the brain and its membranes lead to secondary changes in the skeleton.
Radial anatomy of the skull
The main and proven method of radiological examination of the skull is survey radiography. It is usually performed in two standard projections - direct and lateral. In addition to them, axial, semi-axial and targeted radiographs are sometimes required. Survey and targeted images are used to establish the position, size, shape, contours and structure of all the bones of the skull.
Radiation anatomy of the brain
The main methods of intravital study of the structure of the brain are currently CT and especially MRI.
Indications for their implementation are determined jointly by the attending physicians - a neurologist, neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, oncologist, ophthalmologist and a specialist in the field of radiation diagnostics.
X-ray anatomy of the skull and brain
Skull and brain injuries
X-ray examinations of victims are carried out as prescribed by a surgeon, traumatologist or neurologist (neurosurgeon). The basis for such a prescription is a head injury, general cerebral (headache, nausea, vomiting, impaired consciousness) and focal neurological symptoms (speech disorders, sensitivity, motor sphere, etc.). The clinician's referral must necessarily indicate a presumptive diagnosis.
X-ray signs of skull and brain damage
Stroke
Cerebral circulatory disorders lead to a variety of clinical effects - from transient ischemic attacks to stroke, the third most common cause of death. In most cases, blood flow disorder is associated with atherosclerotic vascular lesions, which at first may manifest itself with not very expressive symptoms - headache, memory loss, sleep disorders, etc.
Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the brain. Hypertensive syndrome
Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the brain can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacterial lesions include meningitis, abscess and empyema.
X-ray signs of inflammatory diseases of the brain
Tumors of the skull and brain
Clinical diagnostics of brain tumors is associated with great difficulties. Depending on the localization and nature of growth, the tumor can cause both general cerebral symptoms (headache, dizziness, impaired consciousness, personality changes, etc.) and focal neurological disorders (impaired vision, hearing, speech, motor skills, etc.). Moreover, the same tumor at different periods of development is sometimes completely "silent", sometimes causes severe disorders up to loss of consciousness.