Eagle's syndrome with neck discomfort: A report of three cases

Abstract

Eagle's syndrome, or ES, is associated with the elongation of the styloid process and partial or complete mineralization of the stylohyoid ligament. Clinically, the symptoms of ES are characterized by sore throat, neck pain radiating to the ear, dysphagia, and a foreign body sensation when swallowing, resulting from disruption of the neck or pharyngeal region. This report describes 3 male patients (40, 60, and 43 years old) with neck discomfort. These patients were inadvertently diagnosed with ES using multidetector computer tomography and 3-dimensional volumetric computed tomography (MDCT-3D CT). The length of the left styloid process in the first case was 42 mm. In the second case, the size of the right styloid process was 53 mm. In the last case, the length of the right styloid process was 41 mm, while the left side was 43 mm. This syndrome should always be suspected when pain is unilateral and unresponsive to analgesics, mainly in women. Diagnosis requires appropriate examination through radiological examination, special techniques, and experiences. We aim to present and re-emphasize the consideration of a differential diagnosis of ES for diagnosticians.

Keywords

• Computed Tomography
• Eagle's syndrome
• Neck pain
• Ossification
• Styloid process