title: Clinical indications as a basis for ordering extraoral imaging studies.
abstract: Extraoral imaging exams can be an important diagnostic tool for a wide variety of pathologies ranging from bone and mineral disorders, to metabolic disorders, genetic abnormalities, and soft-tissue calcifications such as carotid artery calcification. This article reviews a number of disorders that may manifest in the head and neck region and provides information on how the disorders in question may appear on an extraoral radiograph. It then presents an approach to using clinical indications as a basis for determining when to order extraoral imaging studies.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D019767:Maxillofacial Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*