Eagle Syndrome - prevalence of elongation of the stylohyoid process and calcification of the stylohyoid ligament

Abstract

Morphologic alterations of the styloid chain are common events and the elongated styloid process and calcification of the stylohyoid ligament are the most frequent occurrences. These alterations can be linked to a group of symptoms related to the head and neck area including the oral cavity, and the best known diagnosis is called Eagle Syndrome (SE). The aim of this study was to evaluate the SE occurrence in patients from the Oral Medicine Department of Araraquara Dental School - SP (Unesp) in the period from 1989 to 2008, as well as to investigate the approach, the diagnosis methods and treatments of this pathology. 123 clinic records of the department were analyzed, 15 of them presented the SE diagnosis. Data showed that female gender was the most affected (93.3%) in elderly age (over 52 years old). The most prevalent complaint was pain/ ardour (66.6%) and xerostomia (13.3%). It was concluded that SE is not a rare occurrence, being most prevalent in woman on elderly age. A detailed analysis of the signs/ symptoms and the radiographic findings of the patient become necessary to establish differential diagnosis in relation to other similar pathologies.