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| Definition: |
The skull X-ray is used to examine the bones of the skull, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses. See also sinuses X-ray.
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| Alternative Names: |
X-ray - head; X-ray - skull; Skull radiography; Head X-ray
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| How the test is performed: |
| The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider’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. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
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| How the test will feel: |
| There is no discomfort from the X-ray. If there is a head injury, positioning of the head may be uncomfortable. |
| Why the test is performed: |
| This test may be performed when there has been trauma and/or injury to the skull or when symptoms indicate a disorder involving structural abnormalities may be present inside the skull (such as tumors or bleeding). The X-ray is also used to evaluate an unusually shaped child's head. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
The skull X-ray may show fractures, tumors, brain tumors that contain calcium, erosion or decalcification of the bone, or shifts in the soft tissues inside the skull. The X-ray may detect increased intracranial pressure, and congenital (existing at birth) anomalies (unusual structure).
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
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| What the risks are: |
| 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 of the X-ray. |
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Review Date: 12/6/2001
Reviewed By: Evan Mair, M.D., Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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