Skull Imaging-Radiographs and CT revisited.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Skull vault lesions encompass diverse pathologies, including infections and bone tumors (benign and malignant).
• Accurate differentiation of these lesions is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective management.
• Radiography and computed tomography (CT) are vital imaging modalities, particularly in resource-limited settings where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) access may be restricted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and illustrate the radiographic and CT imaging characteristics of various skull vault lesions.
• To aid in differentiating between common and atypical presentations of skull vault pathologies.
• To provide an updated pictorial guide for radiologists and clinicians.

Main Methods:

• Pictorial review focusing on radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging findings.
• Emphasis on differentiating features and classical "aunt minnie" signs.
• Discussion of lesion spectrum based on location and disease stage.

Main Results:

• Identification of distinct imaging patterns for various skull vault lesions.
• Highlighting classical features that aid in rapid diagnosis.
• Addressing atypical presentations not extensively covered in existing literature.

Conclusions:

• Radiographic and CT imaging are essential for diagnosing skull vault lesions.
• Recognizing classical and atypical imaging features improves diagnostic accuracy.
• This review serves as a contemporary resource for understanding skull vault pathology on CT and radiographs.