title: Evaluation of elongated styloid process on digital panoramic radiographs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The elongated styloid process may produce characteristic head and neck pain syndromes, commonly known as Eagle's syndrome. An awareness of this syndrome is important to all health practitioners involved in the diagnosis and treatment of neck and head pain. It has been estimated that 2 to 28% of the general adult population has radiographic appearance of elongated styloid process. The objective of the study was to assess the elongation of styloid process on digital panoramic radiographs and to evaluate the prevalence of elongation according to age, sex and types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elongated styloid process was seen in 107 subjects out of 300 patients who were aged between 10 and 70 years old. Our study revealed that as age increased elongation of styloid process increased with female predominance. Type 1 elongation was most common than the other types of elongation. We also found that left styloids were elongated than the right with bilateral elongation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Panoramic radiographs can show a correct picture of elongated styloid process which can confirm the diagnosis and can thus help avoid misinterpretation of the symptoms as tonsillar pain or pain of dental, pharyngeal or muscular origin and hence panoramic radiography is economical and the best imaging modality to view the elongation of styloid process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology MR Ambedkar Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. roopadr@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roopashri
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vaishali
authors.forename: Maria Priscilla
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Muqeet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult