[Diagnosis and treatment of 23 cases with stylohyoid syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnosis and treatment of stylohyoid syndrome.


METHODS
The clinical data of 23 patients with stylohyoid syndrome were analyzed retrospectively,the symptoms,age,gender, length of styloid process, and clinical signs were investigated in their relationship to the disease onset , the value of styloidectomy via transoral and extraoral approach was compared.


RESULTS
(1) Pain and foreign body sensation in oropharyngeal area accounted for 83%(19/23) of the symptoms ,followed by 43%(10/23) of headache, tongueache and periauricular discomfort. (2) Females were more often affected than males. The age peak was 50s and 30s ,accounting for 43%(10/23) and 30%(7/23) respectively. (3) 91%(21/23) of the excised styloid processes were longer than 3cm in length, 9% (2/23) of them shorter than 3cm but with abnormality in shape. (4) 57%(13/23) of the elongated styloid processes could be palpated transorally. (5) Through extraoral approach, all kinds of diseased styloid processes could be excised thoroughly and safely.


CONCLUSIONS
Stylohyoid syndrome is one of the causes of head and neck pain. A complete medical history , careful palpation of the oral pharyngeal area, and radiographic examination are essential for the diagnosis. Styloidectomy by extraoral approach is effective for curing of the disease.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University Jinan 250012,Shandong Province, China. lshabccba@sdu.edu.cn
Shao-hua
SH
Liu
Yong
Y
Wang
Ren-hua
RH
Zhang
Shi-yuan
SY
Liu
Hua-hai
HH
Peng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain; D010173:Palpation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities*