Why Overlapping Anatomy Can Hide a Finding on an X-ray
A radiograph records structures along a line of sight. Saukko and Knight describe how overlying structures can obscure findings, including changes in the posterior ribs. A view focused on the area of interest can show details that are difficult to see in a broader image.
When an examination report describes a finding seen only in a later view, compare the anatomy included in each image. A change in visibility can reflect a difference in what overlapped the finding.
Saukko and Knight, Knight’s Forensic Pathology, 3rd ed. (2004), p. 32
