The forensic implications of palaeopathology of the cranium and jaws. Part I. A technique for radiography of mummified and skeletal remains.

Radiography of dried skulls presents two major problems: the lack of soft tissue which usually leads to overexposure, and difficulty in maintaining the cranium, with or without mandible, in correct position. The first problem can be alleviated by suspending a one litre drip bag containing Hartman's solution across the X-ray tube head and angled to give a fluid thickness of 10 cm. Satisfactory positioning of the skulls and relating the mandible to cranium was achieved by construction of a spinal column substitute and acrylic hooks and rubber bands. Exposure of 50 KV and 10 mA at 15 seconds for orthopantomographic views and 70 KV at 1.5 seconds for lateral and 65 KV at 1.5 seconds for postero-anterior views gave an optimal, clinically acceptable image. The perfused fluids of living tissues exert a strong, modifying influence on the X-ray beam.