Morphometric and radiological evaluation of the stylohyoid complex in man.

ABSTRACT

Styloid process is a long & slender part of temporal bone. It measures 2 to 3 cms in length and lies antero-medial to the mastoid process. An elongated and abnormally angulated styloid process can compress the vital vessels and nerves close to it .This can lead to pain, foreign body sensation in the pharyngeal region, compression dysphagia, cervical pain, Eagle’s syndrome. Eagle’s syndrome is often misdiagnosed due to its vague symptomatology. The diagnosis relies on detail history taking, palpation of styloid process in tonsillar fossa and imaging modalities. The awareness of the embryological cause and the clinical implications of an elongated styloid process are important for accurate diagnosis and treatment.