Bilateral, Elongated Styloid Process in A Dry Skull; its Clinical Implications: A Case Report

Abstract

The styloid process of temporal bone is a slender, elongated, conical bony projection that lies anteromedial to the mastoid process. Its length normally varies from 2-3 cm, and a styloid process longer than 3 cm is found in 4 to 7% of the population. During the routine osteological study of the skull, we came across a skull with bilateral elongated styloid process. The length of the process on the right side was 5.3cm and on the left 5.2cm and the thickness around the base was 1cm bilaterally. The elongated styloid process is recognised as one of the causes of pain in the cranio-cervical region and is one of the causes of Eagle’s syndrome.  Eagle syndrome, or elongated styloid process syndrome, is associated with such symptoms as chronic facial and neck pain, dysphagia, tinnitus, referred pain in the ear, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, orbital pain, and radiating pain in the maxillary regions, which worsen when the head rotates or the tonsillar fossa region is palpated. Awareness about an elongated styloid process is important for otolaryngologists, radiologists, surgeons and dentists.