Elongated styloid process: a case report

Abstract

The styloid process is a pointy prominence that rises from the petrous portion of the temporal bone. It gives origin to the stylohyoid, styloglossal and stylopharyngeal muscles and the stylomandibular and stylohyoid ligaments. It also forms the anterior border of the stylomastoid foramen, which gives passage to the facial nerve. Situated deep into the neck, the styloid process possess anatomical relations with the pharynx, external and internal carotid vessels, vagus and accessory nerves and the internal jugular vein. Variations regarding this process are unusual. We report a case of an elongated styloid process found in a dry skull during anatomy lessons. The elongated styloid process can cause compression on the aforementioned structures, thus giving origin to the Eagle syndrome, which can be diagnosed by imaging exams. Eagle syndrome can produce symptoms of odynophagia, dysphagia, pain, foreign body sensation and others. Thus, knowledge of the styloid process variations is important in the clinical and surgical field.