Which projection is best for demonstrating all of the paranasal sinuses?

The parietoacanthial projection, commonly known as the Waters method, is specifically designed to visualize the paranasal sinuses in a comprehensive manner. This projection allows for the optimal demonstration of the maxillary sinuses, frontal sinuses, ethmoid sinuses, and the orbits, providing a clear view of the anatomical relationships between these structures.

By positioning the patient's orbitomeatal line perpendicular to the film and angling the central ray, the Waters method effectively maximizes the projection of the maxillary sinuses and provides a detailed view of the surrounding sinuses as well. The use of this technique reduces distortion and enhances the visibility of the sinuses, making it the preferred choice for sinus imaging.

Other methods, while useful in their contexts, do not offer the same level of clarity or coverage for all paranasal sinuses. For instance, the submentovertex projection is primarily focused on the base of the skull and the zygomatic arches, while the lateral projection provides a side view that may not effectively show all sinuses in detail. The occipitomental projection, like the Waters method, is also useful for visualizing the sinuses, but it doesn’t achieve the same broad coverage of all sinus cavities, especially