European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: The word styloid is the resultant of the greek word which states ‘pillar’. There is a slender pointed structure in the temporal bone of the skull present at the front of the mastoid process. Styloid process rests amongst the internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) of the head and neck. The styloid process has 3 muscles (styloglossus, stylopharyngeus and stylohyoid) and 2 ligaments (stylomandibular and stylohyoid ligaments) attached to it. The regular extent of styloid process is 20 – 30 mm, if greater than 30mm this will be regarded as the “elongated styloid process” and when symptoms like chronic cervical pain, neck pain, pain in opening and closing of mouth, pain in rotation of head occurs; that is called Eagle’s syndrome. Eagle’s syndrome can remain undiagnosed for a very long time as it can be correlated with many other disorders like third molar impaction and other teeth and mouth related disorders.