The elongated styloid process: Eagle Syndrome.

Abstract

Eagle sindrome is an uncommon condition caused by an ossified elongated styloid process. The majority of patients with elongated styloid are asyntomatic. The syndrome is diagnosed based on clinical presentation and with imaginologic confirmation. The styloid is considerated elongated after 30 mm lenght. Little or none correlation between lenght and symptoms.Originally described as facial and tonsilar pain post— tonsilectomy. Since then appeared reports of others pathologies associated with elongated Styloid process like, dental pain, carotid disections, internal jugular vein stenosis, Horner sign, sudden death, carotid artery aneurrisms, third brach trigeminal neuralgia, lingual hemiatrophy and fasciculations and so on. We discuss imaginologic diagnosis and treatments, specially surgery and emphasize the scarce alert to include this pathology among the diagnosis to be considered in the anatomical area.