title: A modified transoral approach for carotid artery type Eagle syndrome: technique and outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aimed to summarize our clinical experience with a standardized tonsil-sparing transoral surgical approach used for treatment of styloid process-carotid artery Eagle's syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven consecutive patients, from 2007 to 2013, underwent surgical treatment to remove elongated styloid apophyses transorally. Outcomes were assessed in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications and patients' evolution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient experienced any intraoperative or postoperative complications. All patients have been followed up to present and 10 of them have shown complete relief of the symptoms and improvement of functional ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tonsil-sparing transoral surgical approach described is suitable for treating patients with elongated styloid apophyses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario del Caribe, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia t_arnulfo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Arnulfo C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Division of Stomatology and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jaime S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario del Caribe, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Eagle’s syndrome; intraoral approach; neck pain; styloid process elongation; surgical treatment