Symptomatic elongated styloid process or Eagle's syndrome: a case report

Elongation of the styloid process or stylohyoid ligament calcification is a well recognized finding of dental practice, and an incidence of 4 to 30 percent has been reported on radiographs. Rarely, complete mineralization of the stylohyoid ligament or elongation of styloid process has been associated with difficulties in intubation and significant clinical symptoms, which is termed Eagle’s syndrome, and it exhibits dull or sharp intermittent pain felt along the glossopharyngeal nerve that is located in the hypopharynx and at the base of the tongue and recurrent throat pain or foreign body sensation, dysphagia, or facial pain. Additional symptoms may include neck or throat pain with radiation to the ipsilateral ear. In the case presented, the elongated process caused a broad tenderness in left lateral and posterior cervical as well as temporal regions.