Which issue would you expect if the patient's head is misaligned during an OPG procedure?

When a patient's head is misaligned during an Orthopantomogram (OPG) procedure, one of the primary issues that arises is atero-posterior errors. These errors manifest as incorrect positioning along the anteroposterior (front-to-back) axis, which can lead to an inaccurate representation of the dental and jaw structures on the radiograph. This misalignment can result in the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures appearing distorted, making it challenging to assess the patient's dental health accurately.

In an OPG, the alignment of the patient's occlusal plane and the midpoint of the patient's head with the X-ray beam is crucial for obtaining a clear and diagnostically useful image. If the patient's head is too far forward or backward relative to the machine's focal trough, it can significantly affect the visualization of anatomical landmarks and the relative positioning of the teeth, potentially leading to a misdiagnosis or missed pathology.

The other issues such as cervical spine ghosting, vertical plane errors, and air shadows are typically associated with different aspects of positioning and technique but are not primarily considered a consequence of atero-posterior misalignment.