Unusual ghost image in a panoramic radiograph.

A panoramic radiograph was taken for a 9-year-old female patient with her earrings on; thus, artefactual shadows were cast on the radiograph. In addition to the two real images of the earrings, three additional images were seen corresponding to ghost images of the earrings. They were unusual not only in appearance but also because there were three in number. This paper discusses the cause of such images as it revisits the principles of panoramic radiology with respect to ghost images.