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Case Reports
. 2013 Jul;17(3):347-50.
doi: 10.7162/S1809-977720130003000017.

Eagle's Syndrome

Thaís Gonçalves Pinheiro  1 , Vítor Yamashiro Rocha Soares  2 , Denise Bastos Lage Ferreira  3 , Igor Teixeira Raymundo  3 , Luiz Augusto Nascimento  4 , Carlos Augusto Costa Pires de Oliveira  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

Eagle's Syndrome

Thaís Gonçalves Pinheiro et al. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Eagle's syndrome is characterized by cervicopharyngeal signs and symptoms associated with elongation of the styloid apophysis. This elongation may occur through ossification of the stylohyoid ligament, or through growth of the apophysis due to osteogenesis triggered by a factor such as trauma. Elongation of the styloid apophysis may give rise to intense facial pain, headache, dysphagia, otalgia, buzzing sensations, and trismus. Precise diagnosis of the syndrome is difficult, and it is generally confounded by other manifestations of cervicopharyngeal pain.

Objective: To describe a case of Eagle's syndrome.

Case report: A 53-year-old man reported lateral pain in his neck that had been present for 30 years. Computed tomography (CT) of the neck showed elongation and ossification of the styloid processes of the temporal bone, which was compatible with Eagle's syndrome. Surgery was performed for bilateral resection of the stylohyoid ligament by using a transoral and endoscopic access route. The patient continued to present pain laterally in the neck, predominantly on his left side. CT was performed again, which showed elongation of the styloid processes. The patient then underwent lateral cervicotomy with resection of the stylohyoid process, which partially resolved his painful condition. Final Comments: Patients with Eagle's syndrome generally have a history of chronic pain. Appropriate knowledge of this disease is necessary for adequate treatment to be provided. The importance of diagnosing this uncommon and often unsuspected disease should be emphasized, given that correct clinical-surgical treatment is frequently delayed. The diagnosis of Eagle's syndrome is clinical and radiographic, and the definitive treatment in cases of difficult-to-control pain is surgical.

Keywords: Neck Pain; Oral Surgical Procedures; Osteogenesis.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(A) Computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck showing elongation and ossification of the styloid processes of the temporal bone. The right styloid process measures 5.7 cm and the left measures 4.9 cm, which is compatible with Eagle's syndrome. (B) CT scan of the neck after intraoral styloidectomy, showing ossification of the styloid processes. The right styloid process measures 4.4 cm and the left measures 3.9 cm, thus suggesting that the base of the styloid process is present on both sides. (C) Surgical specimen after extraoral styloidectomy: right and left styloid processes. (D) CT scan of the neck after extraoral styloidectomy, showing the absence of elongation of the styloid processes on both sides.
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