The image of the hard palate can be seen on every normal lateral skull roentgenogram. The hard palate should extend from the premaxilla anteriorly, as far posteriorly as the pterygopalatine fossae.Absence of this image indicates destruction of the hard palate throughout its length.When there is a portion of the corticated line formed by the hard palate on the lateral skull roentgenogram which is missing, this indicates bone destruction involving that portion of the hard palate.Cases of reticulum cell sarcoma, squamous cell epithelioma, plasmacytoma, and syphilis which have produced bone destruction of the hard palate, are presented.