title: Elongated styloid process and cervical spondylosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysphagia, is a significant sign of many different lesions in upper digestive system especially in proximal esophagus. Tumors, gastroesophageal reflux, achalasia and extrinsic compressions are the most common causes that may lead to dysphagia in geriatric population. Cervical osteophyte induced dysphagia, is one of the uncommon reasons of dysphagia, therefore other causes of dysphagia must be excluded to establish the exact diagnosis. Eagle syndrome is one of the considerable reason which may lead to misdiagnosis in patients with cervical osteophytes. In this case report, we represent four patients who had dysphagia due to anteriorly located cervical osteophytes and evaluate the patients with special reference to Eagle syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a detailed anamnesis and ENT examination, cervical plain radiographs in four projections and Towne radiographs were obtained for every patient. After that, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cervical spine and barium swallowing studies were performed to evaluate the presence of esophageal compression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eagle syndrome was excluded due to absence of other symptoms and physical signs, eventhough unilateral or bilateral elongation of styloid processes was found in all of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical osteophytes induced dysphagia is a rare clinical entity, diagnosis should be done by a careful examination, intensive radiologic evaluation. Moreover, all the other causes like Eagle syndrome should be excluded during the diagnosis of cervical osteophyte induced dysphagia.
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orguc
authors.forename: Gorkem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eskiizmir
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Petek
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bayindir
keywords: cervical; dysphagia; eagle’s syndrome; osteophyte