[Eagle's syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
Elongated styloid process also known as Eagle's syndrome is an entity that may be the source of craniofacial and cervical pain. It is frequently reported but is probably more common than generally considered. The symptoms related to Eagle's syndrome can be confused with those attributed to a wide variety of oropharyngeal and maxillofacial diseases. From four observations of Eagle's syndrome, we recall the clinical and radiological findings of this affection.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of four patients examined during a 2-year period. These patients presented cervical pain associated with headache, vertigo, otalgia and dysphagia. All patients were explored by conventional radiographs and three-dimensional computer tomography reconstruction.


RESULTS
Digital palpation of the fossa reproduced and exacerbated the pain. Neck radiographic examination showed a bilateral elongation of the styloid process in both cases. The cervical scanner showed a bilateral elongation of the styloid process in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Eagle's syndrome is a frequent entity that remains vaguely known by physicians. Three-dimensional computer tomography is useful for the diagnosis of this entity.
Oueslati
S
S
Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Hôpital Mahmoud Matri Ariana, Tunisie. Seddik-Oueslati@yahoo.fr
Douira
W
W
Dhieb
R
R
Ben Farhat
L
L
Mnif
N
N
Rezgui
L
L
Kooli
H
H
Jamoussi
M-M
MM
Chaabene
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed