Vol 68, No 4 (2009)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2009-11-26
Length of the styloid process and anatomical implications for Eagle’s syndrome
H.A. Balcioglu, C. Kilic, M. Akyol, H. Ozan, G. Kokten
Folia Morphol 2009;68(4):265-270.
Vol 68, No 4 (2009)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2009-11-26
Abstract
The styloid process is a bony projection, located just anterior to the stylomastoid
foramen, the normal length of which is approximately 20–25 mm. Elongation
of the process may cause various clinical symptoms such as neck and cervicofacial
pain, described as Eagle’s syndrome. The present study aimed to
determine the mean length of the styloid process on cadavers, panoramic radiographs,
and dry skulls, and to investigate the incidence of the elongated
styloid process, while assessing the elongation in relation to Eagle’s syndrome.
When the measurements from the panoramic radiographs were assessed, the
mean length of the styloid processes in males and females on the right and left
sides were found to be the following: 25.78 ± 5.68 mm; 22.69 ± 3.68 mm,
25.80 ± 5.75 mm; and 22.75 ± 3.65 mm, respectively. The males had greater
styloid process lengths than the females, and the differences in length on both
the right and left sides were statistically significant. Descriptive statistics and
comparison results according to age groups were determined. There was no
statistically significant difference between right or left styloid process lengths
according to age groups. The mean length of the styloid process of the cadavers
and dry bones was 22.54 ± 4.24, and there was no significant difference
between the right and left sides of the cadavers and dry bones. The incidence
of the elongated styloid process was determined as 3.3%, and the elongations
revealed a female dominance. The average length of the elongated styloid
process was 36.06 ± 6.12 mm, while the mean length of the styloid processes
of the subjects reporting Eagle’s syndrome was 40 ± 4.72 mm. The results of
this morphological study will assist clinicians in the diagnosis of Eagle’s syndrome.
Abstract
The styloid process is a bony projection, located just anterior to the stylomastoid
foramen, the normal length of which is approximately 20–25 mm. Elongation
of the process may cause various clinical symptoms such as neck and cervicofacial
pain, described as Eagle’s syndrome. The present study aimed to
determine the mean length of the styloid process on cadavers, panoramic radiographs,
and dry skulls, and to investigate the incidence of the elongated
styloid process, while assessing the elongation in relation to Eagle’s syndrome.
When the measurements from the panoramic radiographs were assessed, the
mean length of the styloid processes in males and females on the right and left
sides were found to be the following: 25.78 ± 5.68 mm; 22.69 ± 3.68 mm,
25.80 ± 5.75 mm; and 22.75 ± 3.65 mm, respectively. The males had greater
styloid process lengths than the females, and the differences in length on both
the right and left sides were statistically significant. Descriptive statistics and
comparison results according to age groups were determined. There was no
statistically significant difference between right or left styloid process lengths
according to age groups. The mean length of the styloid process of the cadavers
and dry bones was 22.54 ± 4.24, and there was no significant difference
between the right and left sides of the cadavers and dry bones. The incidence
of the elongated styloid process was determined as 3.3%, and the elongations
revealed a female dominance. The average length of the elongated styloid
process was 36.06 ± 6.12 mm, while the mean length of the styloid processes
of the subjects reporting Eagle’s syndrome was 40 ± 4.72 mm. The results of
this morphological study will assist clinicians in the diagnosis of Eagle’s syndrome.
Keywords
elongation of the styloid process; panoramic radiograph; Eagle’s syndrome
Title
Length of the styloid process and anatomical implications for Eagle’s syndrome
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 68, No 4 (2009)
Article type
Original article
Pages
265-270
Published online
2009-11-26
Page views
808
Article views/downloads
3433
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2009;68(4):265-270.
Keywords
elongation of the styloid process
panoramic radiograph
Eagle’s syndrome
Authors
H.A. Balcioglu
C. Kilic
M. Akyol
H. Ozan
G. Kokten