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Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Head and neck, Computer applications, Ear / Nose / Throat, CT, Image manipulation / Reconstruction, Computer Applications-3D, Diagnostic procedure, Connective tissue disorders, Education and training
Authors:
S. Kalmath1, P. DEBBARMA2, A. DE3, A. G. Biswas4; 1Agartala, Tripura/IN, 2AGARTALA/IN, 3799001, Tr/IN, 4799006, TR/IN
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2016/C-0171
Background
The styloid process is situated anterior to the stylomastoid foramen,
and develops from the second branchial arch,
specifically the proximal Reichert’s cartilage.
It is a cylindrical bony projection,
and has a pointed end of variable length projecting downward and forward from the inferior surface of the petrous part of the Temporal Bone,
and attaches to the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone via the styloid - hyoid ligament.
Styloglosssus,
stylopharyngeus and stylohyoid muscles and the stylomandibular ligament attach to the styloid process.
(Fig 1 )
Pietro Marchetti is credited with the first observation of an elongated styloid process but in 1937 it was Watt.W.Eagle who gave the first description of stylalgia,
and hence was later called the Eagle syndrome.
The syndrome describes an abnormal length of the styloid process,
secondary to mineralization of the styloid ligament complex,
or calcification of the digastric muscles.
Normal length of the styloid process may vary from 20-30 mm.
A 30 mm or longer process is considered abnormal and responsible for the so called eagle syndrome.
Symptoms are pharyngeal pain localized in the tonsillar fossa,
radiating to themed neck region,
aggravated by head rotation and glossolingual movements.
The pain is exacerbated by swallowing and chewing.
Other symptoms include foreign body sensation in the throat ,
dysphagia ,
pain radiating to the neck,
tongue,
chest or temporomandibular joint,
pharyngeal spasm and facial paresthesia.
Langlais et al classified Eagle’s syndrome into the following types ( (Fig 2) -
Type 1- the elongated type pattern represents an uninterrupted process
Type 2 – characterized by a single pseudoarticulation that seems an articulated elongated styloid process
Type 3 – represents an interrupted process that gives the appearance of multiple pseudoarticulations within the ligament.
It can be nodular or completely calcified.
Eagle’s syndrome mainly occurs in 30-50 year old patients,
however,
it has also been reported in children.