BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSkull x-rayX-ray - head; X-ray - skull; Skull radiography; Head x-rayA skull x-ray is a picture of the bones surrounding the brain, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses. x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed You lie on the x-ray table or sit in a chair. Your head may be placed in different positions. How to Prepare for the Test Tell the health care provider if you are pregnant or think you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry. How the Test will Feel There is little or no discomfort during an x-ray. If there is a head injury, positioning the head may be uncomfortable.Head injuryA head injury is any trauma to the scalp, skull, or brain. Head injury can be either closed or open (penetrating). A closed head injury means you rec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Why the Test is Performed Your doctor may order this x-ray if you have injured your skull. You may also have this x-ray if 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.Other conditions for which the test may be performed include:Teeth are not aligned properly (malocclusion of teeth) Malocclusion of teethMalocclusion means the teeth are not aligned properly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection of the mastoid bone (mastoiditis) MastoiditisMastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid bone is located just behind the ear.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Occupational hearing loss Occupational hearing lossOccupational hearing loss is damage to the inner ear from noise or vibrations due to certain types of jobs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Middle ear infection (otitis media) Otitis mediaChronic ear infection is fluid, swelling, or an infection behind the eardrum that does not go away or keeps coming back. It causes long-term or perm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear that causes hearing loss (otosclerosis) OtosclerosisOtosclerosis is an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear that causes hearing loss.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pituitary tumor Pituitary tumorA pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's ba...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sinus infection (sinusitis) SinusitisSinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an inflammatory reaction or an infect...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sometimes skull x-rays are used to screen for foreign bodies that may interfere with other tests, such as an MRI scan.MRI scanA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A CT scan of the head is usually preferred to a skull x-ray to evaluate most head injuries or brain disorders. Skull x-rays are rarely used as the main test to diagnose such conditions. CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be due to:Fracture Tumor Breakdown (erosion) or calcium loss of the bone Movement of the soft tissues inside the skull A skull x-ray may detect increased intracranial pressure and unusual skull structures that are present at birth (congenital).Increased intracranial pressureIncreased intracranial pressure is a rise in the pressure inside the skull that can result from or cause brain injury.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks associated with x-rays.Open ReferencesReferencesChernecky CC, Berger BJ. Radiography of skull, chest, and cervical spine - diagnostic. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:953-954.Magee DJ, Manske RC. Head and face. In: Magee DJ, ed. Orthopedic Physical Assessment. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 2.Mettler FA Jr. Head and soft tissues of face and neck. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 2.AllVideoImagesTogX-ray - illustration X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation that can penetrate the body to form an image on film. Structures that are dense (such as bone) will appear white, air will be black, and other structures will be shades of gray depending on density. X-rays can provide information about obstructions, tumors, and other diseases, especially when coupled with the use of barium and air contrast within the bowel.X-rayillustrationSkull of an adult - illustration This picture shows a normal skull of an adult.Skull of an adultillustrationX-ray - illustration X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation that can penetrate the body to form an image on film. Structures that are dense (such as bone) will appear white, air will be black, and other structures will be shades of gray depending on density. X-rays can provide information about obstructions, tumors, and other diseases, especially when coupled with the use of barium and air contrast within the bowel.X-rayillustrationSkull of an adult - illustration This picture shows a normal skull of an adult.Skull of an adultillustration Tests for Skull x-ray Skull x-rayX-rayHead CT scanRelated Information X-ray(Medical Test)Sinus x-ray(Medical Test)Erosion(Symptoms)Increased intracranial pressure(Condition)Dementia(Condition)Friedreich ataxia(Condition)Hydrocephalus(Condition)Malocclusion of teeth(Condition)Mastoiditis(Condition)Meningitis(Condition)Alzheimer disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Ear infections - InDepth(In-Depth)Sinusitis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/2/2022 Reviewed By: Evelyn O. Berman, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Skull x-rayX-ray - head; X-ray - skull; Skull radiography; Head x-rayA skull x-ray is a picture of the bones surrounding the brain, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses. x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed You lie on the x-ray table or sit in a chair. Your head may be placed in different positions. How to Prepare for the Test Tell the health care provider if you are pregnant or think you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry. How the Test will Feel There is little or no discomfort during an x-ray. If there is a head injury, positioning the head may be uncomfortable.Head injuryA head injury is any trauma to the scalp, skull, or brain. Head injury can be either closed or open (penetrating). A closed head injury means you rec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Why the Test is Performed Your doctor may order this x-ray if you have injured your skull. You may also have this x-ray if 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.Other conditions for which the test may be performed include:Teeth are not aligned properly (malocclusion of teeth) Malocclusion of teethMalocclusion means the teeth are not aligned properly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection of the mastoid bone (mastoiditis) MastoiditisMastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid bone is located just behind the ear.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Occupational hearing loss Occupational hearing lossOccupational hearing loss is damage to the inner ear from noise or vibrations due to certain types of jobs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Middle ear infection (otitis media) Otitis mediaChronic ear infection is fluid, swelling, or an infection behind the eardrum that does not go away or keeps coming back. It causes long-term or perm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear that causes hearing loss (otosclerosis) OtosclerosisOtosclerosis is an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear that causes hearing loss.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pituitary tumor Pituitary tumorA pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's ba...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sinus infection (sinusitis) SinusitisSinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an inflammatory reaction or an infect...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sometimes skull x-rays are used to screen for foreign bodies that may interfere with other tests, such as an MRI scan.MRI scanA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A CT scan of the head is usually preferred to a skull x-ray to evaluate most head injuries or brain disorders. Skull x-rays are rarely used as the main test to diagnose such conditions. CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be due to:Fracture Tumor Breakdown (erosion) or calcium loss of the bone Movement of the soft tissues inside the skull A skull x-ray may detect increased intracranial pressure and unusual skull structures that are present at birth (congenital).Increased intracranial pressureIncreased intracranial pressure is a rise in the pressure inside the skull that can result from or cause brain injury.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks associated with x-rays.Open ReferencesReferencesChernecky CC, Berger BJ. Radiography of skull, chest, and cervical spine - diagnostic. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:953-954.Magee DJ, Manske RC. Head and face. In: Magee DJ, ed. Orthopedic Physical Assessment. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 2.Mettler FA Jr. Head and soft tissues of face and neck. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 2.