Eagle's syndromes(calcified styloid ligament process) accompanied with throat pain on swallowing: report of 2 cases

ABSTRACT

syndrome, Eagle's Syndrome) is named after Eagle who insisted the styloid process as a cause of pain but distinguishable from the glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Eagle's syndrome is characterized by a dull nagging pharyngeal pain, a palpable hardness in the tonsillar fossa, radiopaque elongation and enlargement of the syloid process. This is to report two cases of Eagle's Syndrome. The clinical and radiological features, development and pathogenesis of the Eagle's syndrome and pathologic findings of the calcified styloid ligaments were described with review of literatures. The external cervical approach to resect the enlarged calcified processes can be an option due to better visualization and accessbility, less infection at risk than intra-oral approach. The findings and results were as follows ; 1. The calcified styloid ligaments accompanied with throat pain were reseded in size of 5.5 x 48 mm(#1, Rt), 3.6 x 50 mm(#1, Lt), 5.2 x 51 mm(#2, Rt) and 3.1 x 38 mm(#2, Lt). 2. The submandibular approach to resect the calcified styloid process is of help to get better visibility and accessiblilty avoiding the injury to the deep cervial vital structures. 3. The resected styloid processes were examined histopathologically as the matured cortical bones with marrow structures or cartilagenous cells without any findings of neoplasmic changes. 4. The remained process did not show any noticeable regrowth in 3 years after surgical amputation.