Diagnostic Imaging of the Head

Radiography has traditionally been used as the first diagnostic imaging technique in veterinary medicine for examination of any part of the body, including the head. Its availability in most veterinary centers, its low cost and its rapidity in image obtaining, make it a recommended imaging modality for the general examination of the head, especially bone structures and aerated structures such as nose, sinus and tympanic bullae. However, the head is an anatomical region of difficult radiographic examination due to the large number of bones that cause structures to overlap. In recent years, other imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are increasingly available and accessible. The CT scan allows an excellent examination of bone structures and has not the problem of overlapping structures. CT is also a superior for the examination of aerated head structures and to a lesser extent for the examination of soft tissues. Finally, CT is very useful for surgical planning because it allows obtaining multiple different types of reconstructions, such as three-dimensional reconstructions (3D) and multiplanar reconstructions (dorsal and sagittal) among others.  [...]