Prevalence of Elongated Styloid Process in a Central Brazilian Population.
BACKGROUND
Eagle's syndrome comprises a rare disorder caused by compression of an elongated or deformed styloid process or ossified/calcified stylohyoid ligament on neural and vascular structures. It is characterized by facial and neck pain and can be confused with a wide variety of facial neuralgias, oral and dental diseases and temporomandibular disorders. An imaging evaluation associated with a careful clinical examination, are mandatory in structuring a correct differential diagnosis and in the establishment of a proper therapeutic protocol.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of the elongated styloid process in a Central Brazilian population and its relation to gender, age and side.


METHODS
Digital panoramic radiographs of 736 patients (412 female and 324 male, with a mean age of 35.03 years) were consecutively selected from a private radiology clinic's secondary database. The apparent length of the styloid process was measured from the point where the styloid left the tympanic plate to the tip of the process by two specialists in dental radiology, with the help of the measuring tools on the accompanying software. Styloid process measuring more than 30 mm was considered elongated. The statistical analysis included frequency distribution and cross tabulation. The data were analysed by using Chi-squared tests. The level of significance was set at 5% for all analyses.


RESULTS
A total of 323 (43.89%) radiographic images were suggestive of elongated styloid process. No statistically significant difference was found between the genders, although a higher prevalence was noticed in female participants. Approximately, 31% of the elongated styloid process was observed in 18-53-year-old participants (p < 0.05). Two hundred and sixty seven styloid processes (36.28%) were elongated on both right and left sides.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of elongated styloid process was high and no statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of elongated styloid process and the studied variables with the exception of the age.
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá , Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil .
Evanice Menezes Marçal
EM
Vieira
Associate Professor, Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá , Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil .
Orlando Aguirre
OA
Guedes
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá , Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil .
Sylvania De
SD
Morais
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá , Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil .
Carlo Ralph De
CR
Musis
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá , Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil .
Paulo Artur Andrade De
PA
Albuquerque
Associate Professor, Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá , Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil .
Álvaro Henrique
ÁH
Borges
Anatomic variations; Digital panoramic radiography; Eagle’s syndrome