UNASSIGNED: The purpose of this study is to describe both the common and uncommon symptoms associated with Eagle syndrome and share our experience treating a large group of patients with surgical intervention, primarily intraoral excision of the calcified stylohyoid ligament.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective case series included 56 patients at least 18 years of age or older with a diagnosis of Eagle syndrome. All operations were conducted by a single surgeon at a tertiary medical center from 2015 to 2022. Charts were reviewed for demographics, prior medical/surgical history, symptoms, imaging results, operative details, and follow-up history. A phone survey inquired about presenting symptoms and symptom resolution following surgery.
UNASSIGNED: The most common areas of pain were the ear (64.3%), underneath the angle of the mandible (50%), throat (46.4%), and neck (30.4%). Over 70% of patients reported tinnitus, dysphagia, and pain that were exacerbated by head rotation. Fifty-one of the 56 patients underwent surgical treatment, 92.2% via intraoral and 7.8% via cervical approaches. All patients (100%) reached in a phone survey stated that their symptoms resolved or improved after surgery.
UNASSIGNED: Eagle syndrome typically presents with common symptoms. However, healthcare providers must also be vigilant for less common manifestations, such as seizures or episodes of dizziness/fainting. These may be caused by calcification of the stylohyoid ligament. Intraoral surgical resection of the calcified ligament is a safe and effective treatment for most patients.
UNASSIGNED: Level 4.

Introduction  Eagle syndrome is a rare and an often misdiagnosed entity in otorhinolaryngology. Objective  To determine the efficacy of the surgical treatment for Eagle syndrome. Methods  The present prospective study included 25 patients who presented with complaints of pain in the throat, ear, and neck, as well as difficulty and/or pain while swallowing; they were assessed for Eagle syndrome. As per patient profile, we performed a clinical assessments along with orthopantomograms (OPGs), three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) scans, and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Pain was assessed pre- and postoperatively through the Numerical Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11), whose score ranges from 0 to 10. Microscopic tonsillo-styloidectomy was performed in cases in which the conservative treatment failed to relieve pain. Results  The mean age of the entire study population was of 36.08 ± 7.19 years, and the male-to-female ratio was of 1.08:1. Referred otalgia was the commonest (44%) complaint. Radiologically, out of 25 patients, 20 patients presented elongated styloid processes. The longest symptomatic styloid process measured radiographically was of 64.7 mm while the shortest was of 28.2 mm. Out of 20 patients, 12 underwent surgery. The postoperative pain assessment through the NRS-11 was performed on day 0 (3.83 ± 0.83), day 7 (1.5 ± 0.52), week 4 (0.5 ± 0.52), and week 12 (0.41 ± 0.51). By 12 weeks, 7 patients were symptom-free, while 5 patients still reported mild pain. Conclusion  Eagle syndrome associated with an elongated styloid process is not a rarity, but it often goes undiagnosed. Microscopic tonsillo-styloidectomy shows excellent results in the management of patients with Eagle syndrome.

UNASSIGNED: Eagle syndrome is caused by an elongated styloid process affecting carotid arteries and cranial nerves. Pain, dysphagia, tinnitus, paresthesia (classic subtype), and neurovascular events (vascular subtype) may be triggered by head movements or arise spontaneously. However, Eagle syndrome remains underappreciated in the neurological community. We aimed to determine the most common neurological and non-neurological clinical presentations in patients with Eagle syndrome and to assess the clinical outcome post-surgical resection in comparison to non-surgical therapies.
UNASSIGNED: We conducted a systematic review of patient-level data on adults with Eagle syndrome, following PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data on demographics, presenting symptoms, neurological deficits, radiological findings, and treatments, including outcomes and complications, from studies in multiple indexing databases published between 2000 and 2023. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO.
UNASSIGNED: In total, 285 studies met inclusion criteria, including 497 patients with Eagle syndrome (mean age 47.3 years; 49.8% female). Classical Eagle (370 patients, 74.5%) was more frequent than vascular Eagle syndrome (117 patients, 23.5%, p < 0.0001). Six patients (1.2%) presented with both variants and the subvariant for four patients (0.8%) was unknown. There was a male preponderance (70.1% male) in the vascular subtype. A history of tonsillectomy was more frequent in classic (48/153 cases) than in vascular (2/33 cases) Eagle syndrome (Odds Ratio 5.2, 95% CI [1.2-22.4]; p = 0.028). By contrast, cervical movements as trigger factors were more prevalent in vascular (12/33 cases) than in classic (7/153 cases) Eagle syndrome (Odds Ratio 7.95, 95% CI [2.9-21.7]; p = 0.0001). Headache and Horner syndrome were more frequent in vascular Eagle syndrome and dysphagia and neck pain more prominent in classic Eagle syndrome (all p < 0.01). Surgically treated patients achieved overall better outcomes than medically treated ones: Eighty-one (65.9%) of 123 medically treated patients experienced improvement or complete resolution, while the same applied to 313 (97.8%) of 320 surgical patients (Odds Ratio 1.49, 95% CI [1.1-2.0]; p = 0.016).
UNASSIGNED: Eagle syndrome is underdiagnosed with potentially serious neurovascular complications, including ischemic stroke. Surgical treatment achieves better outcomes than conservative management. Although traditionally the domain of otorhinolaryngologist, neurologist should include this syndrome in differential diagnostic considerations because of the varied neurological presentations that are amenable to effective treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The styloid process (SP) becomes clinically relevant when it shows enlargement (>30 mm) in the sense of an elongated SP (ESP) and/or increasing calcification leading to Eagle Syndrome (ES). Panoramic radiograph (PR) or computed tomography (CT) are part of the routine diagnostics in ES. Currently, CT is considered the gold standard. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy in the diagnostics/measurements of SP/ESP throughout a comparative study between PR and CT. Furthermore, in addition to measuring established parameters, this study aimed to determine the currently unexamined width in the base and tip of the SP.
METHODS: The present study examined the radiological findings of bilateral SP in 100 patients who received both PR and CT on the same day. Measurements of the length of the SP and width at the basis and tip were performed. Furthermore, calcification patterns, Langlais classification and the prevalence of ESP were analyzed.
RESULTS: There was a highly significant correlation between PR and CT measuring SP for every parameter. Males showed significantly longer SP than females among the age group between 18-75 years. The results of the length measurements of the SP (male: right SP=32.98 mm; left SP=35.21 mm; female: right SP=30.31 mm; left SP=30.92 mm) significantly exceeded the values of comparable studies.
CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, it can be concluded that PR provides accurate measurements when compared to CT for measuring and diagnosing SP/ESP/Eagle syndrome. This study was one of the first to examine the width of the SP in the base and tip, thus these measurements can serve as a baseline for further studies. Since the mean lengths of SP exceeded 30.0 mm in the present study, these findings raise the question of whether the cut-off of 30.0 mm is adequate for the diagnosis of ESP.

UNASSIGNED: Contraindications of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) have been proposed, which mandate rigorous control for its safe practice when manipulating the upper spine. Here, we report a vascular complication of Neck Manipulation in Eagle syndrome (ES) patient.
UNASSIGNED: SMT is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain and neck pain by applying force to the spinal joints. Here, we report a rare but devastating complication of SMT, where a young male patient, 22 years old, with ES, had a large pseudoaneurysm from the internal carotid artery (ICA) after SMT from an unlicensed practitioner, treated successfully with endograft. Clinicians administering SMT should consider an elongated styloid process as a potential contraindication to this therapy.

BACKGROUND: Eagle syndrome, an uncommon condition, causes symptoms due to neural and/or vascular compression from an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament and can also complicate other planned surgical procedures.
METHODS: A 42-year-old female with loss of balance, dizziness, and ataxic gait underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealing a right-sided Koos grade IV vestibular schwannoma. Initially, a retrosigmoid craniotomy for tumor resection was planned. However, preoperative MRI and computed tomography (CT) showed a dilated right-sided mastoid emissary vein, tortuous scalp and paraspinal veins, and bilateral elongated styloid processes. CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography indicated Eagle syndrome-related compression of both internal jugular veins and concurrent occlusion of the left internal jugular vein at the jugular foramen. Consequently, given the risk of damaging venous structures, Gamma Knife radiosurgery was chosen over resection.
CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the importance of adapting treatment plans based on patient-specific anatomical and pathological factors. In situations in which traditional surgery poses risks to sensitive structures such as the venous system, alternative approaches like radiosurgery offer safer yet effective options. Comprehensive risk-benefit evaluations are crucial for such decisions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of an elongated styloid process and analyze the presence of its calcification in the Saudi population using panoramic radiographs.
METHODS: The Taibah Outpatient Dental Clinic\'s OPG radiographs for 962 patients who attended screening clinics between December 2022 and October 2023 were all included in the study. Patients\' demographics, such as age, gender, and nationality, as well as radiological data, were included in the following study variables: the presence of an elongated styloid on both sides of a panoramic radiograph, right side styloid length, left side styloid length, right side distal end thickness, and left side distal end thickness.
RESULTS: The study evaluated 438 (45.5%) processes found in individuals aged 16-80 years old. The elongated process length ranged from 30.0 to 40.1 mm, and the diameter ranged from 0.81 to 7.79 mm at the origin to 0.56-3.79 mm at the end. There was no statistically significant difference in process length across genders or age groups. The diameters of the styloid bones on the left side vary significantly across genders at the start and completion of the process.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of elongated styloids in the studied population was 4.26%. The radiological evaluation of the styloid process is a crucial stage in dental surgery planning.

BACKGROUND: Eagle syndrome is characterized by an elongated styloid process, which can cause acute neurological symptoms when the projection impinges on local structures. One method by which Eagle syndrome can cause acute stroke is via internal carotid artery dissection.
METHODS: A patient presented with acute aphasia and right-arm weakness. Imaging revealed a left internal carotid artery dissection, which was treated with stenting. Three years later, the patient presented with left-sided weakness, and imaging revealed a new right internal carotid artery dissection. Closer review of the patient\'s imaging revealed bilateral elongated styloid processes. The patient subsequently underwent staged bilateral styloidectomy and returned to his prior baseline postoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS: This case report describes a patient with Eagle syndrome who had two internal carotid artery dissections separated by several years. A literature review revealed that styloidectomy is well tolerated in patients with carotid dissection due to Eagle syndrome. Patients with carotid dissection due to Eagle syndrome remain at risk for contralateral dissection, and prophylactic contralateral styloidectomy should be considered.

(1) Background: \"Eagle Syndrome\", also known as \"stylalgia\" or a \"stylohyoid chain anomaly\", typically manifests with ipsilateral orofacial pain, a foreign body sensation in the throat, and ear-related symptoms. Despite these common presentations, its potential association with carotid artery dissection is not widely acknowledged. (2) Methods: This article presents an extremely rare case of a patient diagnosed with an ischemic stroke in the left hemisphere, followed by the dissection of the left internal carotid artery, initially with an unidentified cause. Subsequent examinations revealed elongated left styloid processes directly compressing the dissected artery. (3) Results: After initial treatment involving pharmacological and mechanical thrombectomy, styloidectomy restored blood flow to the internal carotid artery. The patient remained symptom-free during a 12-month follow-up. (4) Conclusions: This case emphasizes the importance of considering anatomical variations within the stylohyoid chain when assessing young individuals with neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it underscores the potential benefits of early surgical intervention in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.

Eagle syndrome is defined as a collection of symptoms affecting the cervical and cranial regions, resulting from an elongated styloid process or ossified stylohyoid ligament encroaching on surrounding structures and causing a variety of symptoms. Classically, Eagle syndrome presents as neck, throat, or ear pain. Carotid artery dissection is a rare complication of Eagle syndrome. We report the case of a 40-year-old man who presented with bilateral internal carotid artery dissection secondary to pathological elongation of the styloid processes.