X-rays were discovered in 1895 and since then much has been written about Wilhelm Roentgen and the events surrounding the discovery. However, there have been only scattered references in the literature about the early workers who dedicated their life, and death, to X-rays. Radiology has come of age since then. Large exposure times have been reduced to milliseconds and there has been a change from analogue to digital. The advent of new and rapidly developing modalities and the ubiquitous presence of cone beam CT (CBCT) highlight the need to remember the early victims of X-rays, especially with the lack of universal guidelines for taking a CBCT scan. The aim of this article is to alert the oral radiologist to exposing patients irrespective of need, and to pay respect to the victims on the 116th anniversary of the discovery of X-rays.

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EMIT Liver cirrhosis a b s t r a c tBackground: Chronic liver diseases (CLD) are quite prevalent throughout the globe. Its early and correct diagnosis is always a concern among physicians, especially the residual liver function. For this various substrates like caffeine are being investigated in body fluids like serum and saliva. Saliva as a study sample has its own advantages due to its non invasiveness; it can be very useful study sample.Methods: 30 Subjects with CLD and 15 healthy controls were administered 200 mg of caffeine. Subjects classified into severity groups (class-A-mild-n ¼ 9, B-moderate-n ¼ 11, and C-severe-n ¼ 10) based on "Child-pugh classification" of severity of liver disease. After 17 h of dietary caffeine restriction and before drug administration, 0 h salivary sample was taken. After the dose of caffeine, 4 and 16 h saliva sample was taken. Blood sample was taken from controls only at same time points. These samples were analyzed on semi automated analyzer using Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique (EMIT) by spectrophotometric method. Caffeine clearance values were calculated and results were statistically analyzed.Results: Significant correlation was found between serum caffeine clearance and salivary caffeine clearance (SCC). Controls showed higher mean of SCC value of 1.6 ± 0.2 ml/min/kg while SCC values of subjects were less, with mean of 0.5 ± 0.2 ml/min/kg. Significant correlation was found between degree of hepatic dysfunction and SCC values.Conclusion: Saliva can be used for diagnosis of CLD and assessment of residual liver function in CLD as alternative to serum.

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Objective: A study was carried out to investigate the rationale that use of a thyroid collar (TC) in cephalometric radiography hampers the diagnostic and descriptive quality of lateral cephalogram. Methods: A randomized observer blinded study was designed. The study consisted of two groups. The first group data were retrieved from the oral radiology archival system having lateral cephalogram without a TC. The second group was selected from the oral radiology department of patients where lateral cephalogram was taken using a TC. Lateral cephalogram was taken on direct digital system, the Kodak 9000 unit (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY). 2 observers blinded about the aim of the study were appointed to identify 15 sets of landmarks on the lateral cephalogram. Interobserver variance was also analysed for the study. Results: 50 lateral cephalograms in each group were studied. Out of 15 sets of landmarks, 12 were identified consistent with the TC group. Three landmarks, namely the hyoid bone, second cervical vertebra and third cervical vertebra could not be identified on the TC group. There was no significant difference in the interobserver markings on lateral cephalogram. Conclusions: TCs do mask a few landmarks on the lateral cephalogram. These landmarks are mainly used for analysis of skeletal maturity index (SMI). Lead TCs are probably the most convenient and easily available means to protect the thyroid from unwanted radiation while taking lateral cephalogram. It is therefore encouraged to use a TC during routine cephalometric radiography where SMI information is not needed.

Gunshot injuries are an emerging form of trauma that oral radiologists increasingly have to deal with. There are two main types of gunshot injuries: high-velocity and low-velocity bullet injuries. The outcome of high-velocity gunshot injury is usually fatal; however, a nonfatal low-velocity injury to the maxillofacial region is more likely to be encountered by the oral and maxillofacial radiologist. It is therefore important to up-to-date knowledge of ballistic science and its implications in the field of maxillofacial radiology. The ability of oral and maxillofacial radiologists to predict the missile trajectory will aid the assessment and localization of the damage caused by the bullet and its splinters. Predicting the missile trajectory may also be of help to law enforcement agencies and forensic scientists in determining the type of firearm used and direction of fire. This article, which examines two cases, attempts to highlight to the oral radiologist this emerging form of trauma and its implications.