Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Styloid process is derived from the Greek word ‘Stylos’ meaning a pillar. Styloid process of temporal bone is a slender projection attached to base of the skull and extends downwards, forwards and slightly medially. From its extremity the stylohyoid ligament passes downwards and forwards to the lesser horns of hyoid bone.The length of the styloid process is usually 2–3 cm.  When it is more than 3 cm it is called as elongated styloid process. The elongated styloid process may produce characteristic head and neck pain syndromes, commonly known as Eagle’s syndrome. An awareness of this syndrome is important to all health practitioners involved in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck pain. The objective of the study was to assess the elongation of styloid process on digital panoramic radiographs and to evaluate the prevalence of elongation according to age, gender, side of occurrence and type of elongation. Panoramic radiographs can show an accurate image of elongated styloid process which can confirm the diagnosis. This can prevent misinterpretation of the pathology as tonsillar, dental, pharyngeal and muscular pain. With this in mind, the present study was planned to assess the prevalence of elongated styloid process in 300 Digital panoramic radiographs (600 sides).
Key words: Digital radiograph, eagles syndrome, styloid process.

Corresponding author: Dr. Shubhangi Gaikwad, Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital, Pune, India
  This article may be cited as: Gaikwad S, Mhapuskar A, Modak R, Ul-Nisa S. Evaluation of Elongated Styloid Process on Digital Panoramic Radiographs in Pune City - A Retrospective Study. J Adv Med Dent Scie Res 2017;5(12):42-45.