• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.258-263
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• 1996

The styloid process is a slender, cylindrical bony outgrowth located immediately in front of the stylomastoid foramen and fused to the inferior aspect of the temporal bone. The elongated styloid process is not so frequent and the styloid syndrome is a dull, nagging pain in the oropharynx, often referred to the ear and the mastoid region. The symptoms are secondary stimulation of the nerves and vessels which pass close to the tip of the process. The clinical diagnosis is certain if the elongated styloid process is palpated through the tonsillar area. Radiologic investigation give information about the length of the styloid process and medial angulation. The treatment of choice is surgical shortening of the process. Recently, the authors experienced a case of elongated styloid syndrome misdiagnosed as pharyngeal neurosis in a 28 year-old male patient.

• 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.16 no.3
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• pp.348-355
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• 1994

Styloid process is a slender pointed bone of variable length, which project downward, forward, and slightly medialward from the posteroinferior portion of the tympanic part of the temporal bone. Embryologically, the styloid process is derived from Reichert's cartilage, a structure of second branchial arch origin. Most patients with elongated styloid process remain asymptomatic, but some patients complain pain and sensation of foreign body in the throat, dysphagia, dysphonia, referred otalgia. Recently, we have experienced a case of elongated styloid process in a fifty-nine year old man. He had been suffered from Rt. side sore throat, headache and pharyngeal discomfort during head movement. Through various X-ray examination, Xeroradiography, and palpation of tonsillar fossa, elongated styloid process on Rt. side was confirmed. Under the general anesthesia, it was successfully removed out via transoral approach technique, described by Eagle. The resected styloid process was 2.5cm in it's length and he was freed from the symptoms without further complication.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.319-323
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• 1995

The implication of cervical pain associated with an elongated styloid process is credited to W.W.Eagle. Even though there were earlier reports of ossification of the stylohyoid ligament, findings in more than 200 cases in 1980s and 1940s resulted in the naming of a clinical syndrome that continues to bear his name, Eagle's syndrome. It is also sometimes called styloid process neuralgia or elongated styloid process syndrome is more common than generally recognized. The clinical symptoms range from a dull nagging pain with occasional radiation to ear, or to a foreign body sensation. Dysphagia and odynophagia may also occur. We successfully treated one case by removal of the elongated styloid process under the general anesthesia and C2 ganglion block. We then reported the clinical feature of one case of the Eagle's syndrome and further researched with the foreign literature.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.193-201
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• 1988

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variation in the length and shape of styloid processes and the relationships between the elongated styloid processes and the styloid process syndrome, using panoramic radiogrpahs and questionaires. The subjects were 342 patients consisted of 170 males and 172 females aged from 11 to 78 years, not showing facial asymmetry, who visited infirmary of dental college of Yonsei University. Also, the accuracy was determined for measuring the length of styloid processes from panoramic radiographs, using dried skulls. The results were as follows: 1. The length of styloid processes was magnified approximately 1.1 times, but there was no statistically significant differencies in the magnification rate of length between right and left side. 2. The mean radiographic length of styloid processes was 29.72±7.92㎜ in males, 27.93±6.69㎜ in females, and 28.82±7.37㎜ in total. And elongated styloid process (>30㎜) was seen in 31.3% of total subjects. 3. The growth in the length of styloid processes was completed in the third decade. 4. The most common shape of styloid processes was straight followed by segmented and bent form. The incidence of segmentation was reduced with increasing age. 5. The 74% of subjects with elongated styloid process (>30㎜) showed symptoms of the styloid process syndrome. The most frequent symptom was headache followed by discomfort in the neck when turning the head from left to right, tinnitus or earache, vague facial pain, discomfort or pain when swallowing, feeling that an object is caught in throat.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2020

Eagle syndrome is relatively uncommon with an incidence of abnormal stylohyoid length being 4% to 7.3%. A vast majority of individuals with elongation of the styloid process are asymptomatic. It is a syndrome marked by the clinical signs and symptoms of facial pain, ear pain, throat pain, dysphagia and a globus sensation in the throat. The cause of Eagle syndrome is believed to be a congenital or hormonal change and reactive osseus hyperplasia of the styloid process in response to pharyngeal trauma or surgical intervention, such as tonsillectomy. We present here a case of a 37-year-old female with a twelve-month history of both sided oropharyngeal pain and globus sensation which has no trauma or surgical intervention. The patient presented with a long, slender, bony intraoral projection that was found to be an elongated styloid process. We removed this elongated styloid process with a CO₂ laser, and her symptoms disappeared.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2023

Elongated styloid syndrome (ESS) can present with myriad symptoms that mimic common features of orofacial pain, such as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJDs), often causing a challenge and delay in diagnosis. We report the case of a 52-year-old male with a three-year history of non-painful clicking during jaw movement initially diagnosed as TMJD-related internal derangement. The patient presented with a history of annoying jaw sounds for three years, described as a popping sound without bilateral clicking or crepitation. Tinnitus and progressive hearing loss were observed in the right ear, and a hearing aid was recommended by an otolaryngologist. The patient was initially diagnosed with TMJD and managed accordingly; nevertheless, his symptoms persisted. Imaging revealed prominent bilateral styloid process elongation that exceeded the recognized cut-off level of >30 mm for elongation. The patient was informed of his diagnosis and its treatment but opted only for further swallowing and auditory assessments of his ear and nose symptoms. Clinicians should consider including ESS as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with non-specific chronic orofacial symptoms for timely diagnosis and favorable clinical outcomes.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2018

Historically, Eagle syndrome is a term that has been used to describe radiating pain in the orofacial region, foreign body sensation, and/or dysphagia due to a unilateral or bilateral elongated styloid process impinging upon the tonsillar region. Because elongated styloid processes-with or without associated Eagle syndrome-can present with various symptoms and radiographic findings, it can be challenging for healthcare practitioners to formulate an accurate diagnosis. Abnormal styloid anatomy can lead to a multitude of symptoms, including chronic orofacial/neck pain, thus masquerading as more commonly diagnosed conditions. In this report, we describe a patient who presented to our department with styloid process elongation and fracture. A careful history, physical examination, and a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) investigation led to the diagnosis. The patient was then referred for appropriate care. This case report demonstrates the utilization of CBCT in differentiating a fracture site from a pseudo-joint that might mimic a fracture.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.467-472
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• 2010

Eagle's syndrome is the manifestation of elongated styloid process that is not a common entity in dental clinics. Without the knowledge of this syndrome misdiagnosis can be made and therefore differential diag-nosis with other diseases of oral and maxillofacial area is required. The symptoms of elongated styloid process are cervical pain, foreign body sensation, dysphagia and pharyngeal pain. A 27 years old male vis-ited our hospital. He had cervical pain with unilateral facial nerve palsy. Along with meticulous clinical examinations, 3D-CT, Plain radiographic studies were used to make the diagnosis. In computed tomogra-phy, Lt. styloid process was elongated and fractured. Patient have undergone surgical resection of elongat-ed styloid process and have been carefully observed. Characteristically, preoperative facial nerve palsy showed rapid postoperative recovery. The other clinical symptoms that were present in the initial visit were diminished. The purpose of this article is to report a case of Eagle's syndrome presenting unilateral facial nerve palsy that was treated with transoral surgical approach with literature review.

• 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.