• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.395-400
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• 1999

Elongation of the styloid process (styloid syndrome, Eagle's Syndrome) is named after Eagle who insisted the styloid process as a cause of pain but distinguishable from the glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Eagle's syndrome is characterized by a dull nagging pharyngeal pain, a palpable hardness in the tonsillar fossa, radiopaque elongation and enlargement of the syloid process. This is to report two cases of Eagle's Syndrome. The clinical and radiological features, development and pathogenesis of the Eagle's Syndrome and pathologic findings of the calcified styloid ligaments were described with review of literatures. The external cervical approach to resect the enlarged calcified processes can be an option due to better visualization and accessbility, less infection at risk than intra-oral approach. The findings and results were as follows ; 1. The calcified styloid ligaments accompanied with throat pain were reseded in size of $5.5{\times}48mm(#1,\;Rt)$, $3.6{\times}5mm(#1,\;Lt)$, $5.2{\times}51mm(#2,\;Rt)$ and $3.1{\times}38mm(#2,\;Lt)$. 2. The submandibular approach to resect the calcified styloid process is of help to get better visibility and accessiblilty avoiding the injury to the deep cervial vital structures. 3. The resected styloid processes were examined histopathologically as the matured cortical bones with marrow structures or cartilagenous cells without any findings of neoplasmic changes. 4. The remained process did not show any noticeable regrowth in 3 years after surgical amputation.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.95-97
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• 2012

The styloid process is a cylindrical, long cartilaginous bone located on the temporal bone. The calcified stylohyoid ligament and elongated styloid process can be identified radiographically, and they are associated with a number of syndromes and symptoms. The exact cause of the styloid process elongation due to calcification and subsequent ossification of ligament is unclear. This report presents a case of severely calcified stylohyoid ligament complex occurred in twins who have the same pattern of calcification.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence, morphology, and calcification pattern of the elongated styloid process in the Mathura population and its relation to gender, age, and mandibular movements. Materials and Methods: The study analyzed digital panoramic radiographs of 2,706 adults. The elongated styloid process was classified with the radiographic appearance based on the morphology and calcification pattern. The limits of mandibular protrusion were evaluated for each subject. The data were analyzed by using a Student's t-test and chi-squared test with significance set at p=0.05. Results: Bilateral elongation having an "elongated" type styloid process with a "partially mineralized" pattern was the most frequent type of styloid process. No correlation was found between styloid process type and calcification pattern on the one hand and gender on the other, although elongated styloid was more prevalent in older and male populations (p<0.05). Further styloid process elongation showed no effect on mandibular protrusive movement (p>0.05). Conclusion: Dentists should recognize the existence of morphological variation in elongated styloid process or Eagle syndrome apparent on panoramic radiographs. We found higher prevalence of elongated styloid process in the population of the Mathura region when compared with other Indian populations. The calcification of the styloid process was more common in the older age group with no correlation to gender, mandibular movement and site. "Type I" with a "partially calcified" styloid process was observed more frequently in the population studied.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.62-65
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• 2011

Eagle's syndrome occurs when an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament causes recurrent throat pain or foreign body sensation, dysphagia. It is supposed that this symptoms and signs are due to the compression of the styloid process on some neural and vascular structures. More uncommonly, symptoms such as dysphagia, tinnitus, and otalgia may occur in patients with this syndrome. It may also cause stroke due to the compression of carotid arteries. The compression depends on the size, shape, and orientation of the ossified styloid process Besides, degenerative or inflammatory changes in the tendinous portion of the styloid ligament insertion or rheumatic styloiditis may also cause this syndrome. Diagnosis can usually be made on physical examination by digital palpation of the styloid process in the tonsiller fossa. Three-dimensional computed tomography can utilized for supporting diagnosis. The treatment of Eagle's syndrome is primarily surgical. The styloid process can be shortened through an intraoral and extraoral approach. We report a 62-years-old man with the symptomatology of Eagle's syndrome and literature reviews.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2014

Eagle's syndrome is a disease caused by an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament. Eagle defined the disorder in 1937 by describing clinical findings related to an elongated styloid process, which is one of the numerous causes of pain in the craniofacial and cervical region. The prevalence of individuals with this anatomic abnormality in the adult population is estimated to be 4% with 0.16% of these individuals reported to be symptomatic. Eagle's syndrome is usually characterized by neck, throat, or ear pain; pharyngeal foreign body sensation; dysphagia; pain upon head movement; and headache. The diagnosis of Eagle's syndrome must be made in association with data from the clinical history, physical examination, and imaging studies. Patients with increased symptom severity require surgical excision of the styloid process, which can be performed through an intraoral or an extraoral approach. Here, we report a rare case of stylohyoid ligament bilaterally elongated to more than 60 mm in a 51-year-old female. We did a surgery by extraoral approach and patient's symptom was improved.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.567-571
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• 2007

Lateral pharyngeal space is one of potential fascial planes of head and neck, that may become involved by various pathological processes, such as infection, inflammation and neoplasm. The calcified stylohyoid ligament with styloid process is also located in this space, so this space is more acquainted with Eagle's syndrome in oral and maxillofacial field. During the mandibular transbuccal fixation procedures of 29-year old female patient who had right condylar neck and left parasymphysis fracture, we had lost one 10.0 mm miniscrew. After confirming the location of the lost miniscrew from different angled plain skull radiographies, we tried to find it in the lateral pharyngeal space via transtonsillar approach at the time of plate removal operation. This case report is aimed to share our valuable experience of the effective approach way to the lateral pharyngeal space, which has many advantages, such as short operative time, minimal bleeding, fast post-operative recovery, and less morbidity. The related literature is also reviewed.