title: Orofacial pain induced by Eagle syndrome in an elderly patient with temporomandibular disorders - a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eagle syndrome (ES) is a rare disorder that can be responsible for orofacial pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the treatment of an elderly patient affected by ES and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient complained of constant pain of the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and of the sensation of having a foreign body in the throat. Based on the patient's medical history and symptoms, a TMJs internal derangement and concomitant ES were suspected. A magnetic resonance and a computerised tomography confirmed the clinical diagnosis. A conservative treatment was initially performed to re-establish a functional occlusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rehabilitative treatment alleviated the pain almost totally. A slight residual uncomfortable sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the throat persisted after the oral rehabilitation but without any influence on the quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In elderly patients complaining a chronic orofacial pain, the possibility of a concomitant TMD and ES has to be considered to correctly identify the source of pain. A conservative approach to identify weather TMD is the main source of pain is preferable, avoiding unnecessary invasive treatments.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, University of Trieste and Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costantinides
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, University of Trieste and Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vidoni
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, University of Trieste and Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tonni
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, University of Trieste and Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, University of Trieste and Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bodin
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, University of Trieste and Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Lenarda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Eagle syndrome; elders; temporomandibular disorders; treatment