Lateral View of Skull

This is probably the most important of the skull views. There are several features which must be checked on this projection: the hypophyseal fossa, both for pituitary tumours and for the effects of raised intracranial pressure; the position of the pineal, if calcified; the width of the soft tissue shadow on the posterior aspect of the nasopharynx and oropharynx, and the posterior walls of the maxillary antra.

Do not confuse vault fractures with vascular markings and suture lines. Look for other physiological calcification sites, e.g. habenular calcification (reverse C-shape), petroclinoid and interclinoid ligament calcification. The frontal, sphenoid and maxillary air sinuses are clearly visualized on this projection, as is the pterygopalatine fossa.