Waters' view
Waters' view is a radiographic view of the skull. It is commonly used to get a better view of the maxillary sinuses. An x-ray beam is angled at 45° to the orbitomeatal line. The rays pass from behind the head and are perpendicular to the radiographic plate. Another variation of the waters places the orbitomeatal line at a 37° angle to the image receptor. It is named after the American radiologist Charles Alexander Waters.
Uses
Structures observed
Waters' view can be used to best visualise a number of structures in the skull.- Maxillary sinuses.
- Frontal sinuses, seen with an oblique view.
- Ethmoidal cells.
- Sphenoid sinus, seen through the open mouth.
- Odontoid process, where if it is just below the mentum, it confirms adequate extension of the head.
Procedure
[file:Waters' view.svg|thumb|Method of obtaining Waters' view]Typically, the x-ray beam is angled at 45° to the orbitomeatal line. Another variation of the waters places the orbitomeatal line at a 37° angle to the image receptor, or 30°.