ABSTRACT
Objectives: Elongated styloid process was reported concerning dento-maxillofacial and ear-nose-throat patients. Several studies described that its length as well as the anterior and medial angulations occasionally involved in the symptom of Eagle’s syndrome and the surgical shortening of the process could alleviate neck and cervicofacial pain in patients. This study aimed to investigate the length and the angulation of the styloid process, and to study the occurrence of the elongated styloid process in Thais. Methods: The investigation was done in both sides of 176 Thai dry and 150 cadaveric skulls with intact styloid processes. The length and the angulation (anterior and medial angles) of the styloid process were measured and expressed as Mean±SD. A styloid process longer than 30 mm was identified as an elongated styloid process. Results: The means of length, and anterior and medial angles of styloid process were 24.12 ± 7.28 mm, and 28.03 ± 9.85 and 23.53 ± 10.19 degrees, respectively. Out of all styloid processes, 18.40% (11.70% in males, 6.70% in females) were the elongated styloid process. There was no statistical difference of angles between groups with normal and elongated styloid processes (P>0.05). Conclusions: The elongated styloid processes were found up to 18.40% of Thais. The presence of the elongated styloid process and its angulation, though rare, does highlight the importance of routine examination of the styloid process as it may cause pain in craniocervical region.