[Styloid process: radiograph and craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD)].
The aim of the study was to investigate the suitability of orthopantomograms for measuring the length of the styloid process (SP), and to determine the frequency of elongated SP in patients with craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD). For 350 patients, two ortho-pantomograms were available, produced by a SIEMENS Orthophos 5 using programs P1 and P6, respectively, plus a craniomandibular function index. The SP length measurements from the orthopantomograms and the palpation findings were correlated. In 34,7% of the 700 orthopantomograms the SP was measurable. The mean length was determined to be 29.1 mm in OPT1 films on both sides. In the OPT6 films the length values were 30.1 mm on the right, and 30.4 mm on the left side. In CMD patients there was no evidence of the SP causing the complaints. Two conclusions can be made: For epidemiologic studies on the length of the styloid process, the orthopantomogram is of limited use. In CMD patients the elongated styloid process is of negligible importance as a cause of complaints.
Jung
T
T
Med. Hochschule Hannover, Abt. für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, D-30623 Hannover. HTS@prothetik.zmk.mh-hannover.de
Tschernitschek
H
H
Bremer
B
B
Borchers
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*