History of head and neck radiology: past, present, and future

Head and neck radiology has evolved during the century since the discovery of the x ray in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. In the first few decades, conventional radiography was the diagnostic modality for evaluation of head and neck diseases. Special radiographic projections were designed to demonstrate abnormal processes in the paranasal sinuses, temporal bones, base of the skull, and neck. Barium examination with fluoroscopy was used for assessment of the pharynx and esophagus. Linear tomography, introduced in 1932, allowed the acquisition of sections that depicted abnormalities that were not clearly defined at conventional radiography. Linear tomography was further enhanced with the introduction of thin-section polytomography, especially of the temporal bone, in 1954. Computed tomography in 1972 and magnetic resonance imaging in 1982 improved our diagnostic capabilities by enabling location and characterization of tumors, cysts, and inflammatory processes in the head and neck and aiding in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Teaching of residents and fellows by an expanding staff of head and neck radiologists developed. The formation of the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology in 1977 provided a forum for postgraduate education and scientific exchange.