J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2014 Feb;40(1):43-47. 10.5125/jkaoms.2014.40.1.43.

Eagle's syndrome: a case report

• Moon CS
• Lee BS
• Kwon YD
• Choi BJ
• Lee JW
• Lee HW
• Yun SU
• Ohe JY

• KMID: 1960972
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2014.40.1.43

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Eagle syndrome; Elongated styloid process

MeSH Terms

Adult
Deglutition Disorders
Diagnosis
Eagles
Ear
Female
Foreign Bodies
Head Movements
Headache
Humans
Ligaments
Middle Aged
Neck
Pharynx
Physical Examination
Prevalence
Sensation

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Panoramic view at the first visit shows calcification of both stylohyoid ligaments.

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  Fig. 2 Lateral cephalometry & reverse Towne shows that both calcified stylohyoid ligaments come down to hyoid bone.

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  Fig. 3 Cone-beam computed tomography shows that both calcified stylohyoid ligaments are more longer than 60 mm.

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  Fig. 4 Clinical photographs were taken during operation. A. Right. B. Left.

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  Fig. 5 Resected calcified stylohyoid ligament was more than 60 mm on right side.

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  Fig. 6 Panoramic view after surgery shows that most of both calcified stylohyoid ligaments were removed.

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  Fig. 7 Cone-beam computed tomography after surgery shows that both calcified stylohyoid ligaments were almost removed.

Reference

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